1.

PRELUDE
4. ANNUAL DESIGN SHOW
5. DESIGN AT NID
6. CURATORIAL NOTE
10. INQUIRIES ABOUT SELF
29. INQUIRIES ABOUT PRACTICE
42. INQUIRIES ABOUT SUBJECT
58. INQUIRIES ABOUT SYSTEM
72. MAKING OF
74. THE EXHIBITORS
106. ENDNOTES

CONTENTS
There are many emerging challenges in the twenty-
first century that need urgent addressing.

This includes slowing down of ecological crisis,

redefining economy to make business sustainable
and value oriented, shaping future cities and better
public service, negotiating the binaries of global and
local, managing ethical impact of technology on
society, and creating a resilient society.

I believe design has an important role

to play in visualising alternative future
narratives that provoke, question
and seek collective action to realign
socio-technical systems for transition
to the future. While design education
has been addressing issues at
tactical and creative levels, however
it is imperative for design students,
educators and practitioners in the
twenty-first century to explore design
approaches which address some of
these challenges.

PRELUDE 1
The context of this world is changing, and these changing societal trends are
creating new innovation spaces. Over time, designers may have to adapt to
transitional practices to explore expanded notions of design and its fields of
practice, giving designers newer opportunities and multiple roles to play. It
would also mean that design needs to adapt to change to remain relevant to
the changing world.

Design would need to evolve in terms of its characteristics. Orientation

of design may need to change from objects and ‘things’ to relationships,
interaction and experiences for and within a social complex system. Design
has to move from an activity often undertaken by an individual professional
designer to a highly collaborative, co-design activity that involves a variety of
actors, including experts from other fields and disciplines and users as co-
creators, where solutions would be emergent. This brings opportunities and
challenges for design education and practice, where we will need:

Shift from discipline Constantly build new

centric mindset to Narrative for multiple
challenge centric audiences and
mindset stakeholders

To re-imagine Transitional framework

pedagogical and across disciplines
evaluation frameworks

More substantial body To move from problem

of work in transitional solving to problem
design futures framing approaches and
mindsets.
Transdisciplinary
Skill sets.

2 PRELUDE
Lines of Inquiry attempts to bring together work
emerging from different disciplines under the same
theme or addressing similar issues, breaching
disciplinary boundaries and silos in an attempt
to build transdisciplinary narrative of design.
These projects are situated in a wide bandwidth
of outcomes from moderate interventions in
Products, Service, Communications, Environments,
Infrastructure to significant and radical change in
terms of Social Innovation, Community, Revitalisation,
Interaction, Experience, Organisational and Social
as well as Cultural Transformations. It also allows
development of processes, tools and methods, and
new narratives as some of the outcomes.

In NID’s education and practice framework we hope that this exhibition will
lead to dialogues and conversations within and outside the community that
align with NID’s emergent vision by leading in design research for business,
social, and cultural innovation.

Praveen Nahar
DIRECTOR

LINES OF INQUIRY 3
The Annual Design Show is a
showcase of the work produced in
NID Ahmedabad and its extension
campuses in Gandhinagar and
Bengaluru, over the course of an
academic year. It presents work
undertaken by students and faculty
in degree projects, workshops, studio
courses, electives, and international
exchanges. The exhibition seeks to
highlight transformational processes
and moments where learners engage
in the process of framing and re-
framing questions that drive their
creative work and projects.

4 ANNUAL DESIGN SHOW

Nestled on the banks of the river In pursuit of its continued
Sabarmati in Ahmedabad, where commitment to design research, NID
it was set up in 1961, the National started a PhD in Design programme.
Institute of Design is India’s leading It aims to promote deep reflection,
Institution in design. Widely known for inquiry, and rigour in the development
its innovations in pedagogy, curricula and dissemination of new ideas,
and syllabi, the NID continues to serve expressions and skills in the field of
as a benchmark for creative learner- design and allied fields and shall lead
centric models of design education. to their meaningful manifestations in
the form of new design collections,
As part of its public service mandate, objects, communication, services,
the Institute has continuously strategies, etc. The work shall
responded to changing contexts over contribute new theories and
time, especially through its innovative knowledge to design, design
educational programmes that have education and design practice.
opened up new fields of inquiry and
practice within the country, thus
enriching its economy. Its contribution
to the crafts sector and livelihood is
not only well documented, but also
palpably visible on the ground.

DESIGN AT NID 5
Lines of Inquiry is about the questions, probes,
interrogations and investigations that we pursue
as designers. It explores the importance of framing
and re-framing inquiries driving our design and
creative practice; making them meaningful not only
for ourselves, but also for our communities, as well
as our planet. It pursues a journey to discover the
inward and outward quests of academic inquiries
by learners and teachers in the classroom and
outside it, over the past one year.

“A line of inquiry is a set of questions that you are trying to answer through
reading and research design and creative practice. They are questions that you
might already have a partial answer to but that you would like to pursue further.”

6 CURATORIAL NOTE
Some of the key questions about How can we move from
design, designers, and design
making statements to
education that the curators seek
to pose and reflect on. asking big questions?

How can inquiry feed into

design practice/ making
practice?

How can we develop

pedagogical tools to
empower problem
framing?

How might we use In the four sections we explore

inquiries about self, about practice,
design as a medium to
about the subject, and about the
ask questions that we system. The projects in each section
illustrate the multiple directions taken
feel are important?
by these inquiries as they move
across disciplinary boundaries and
How do our personal allow us to explore new perspectives
through thinking historically and
curiosities find their way contextually about the territories
into our practice? of design and its practice. These
crossings become spaces for
reflection on the nature of design and
creative inquiries, especially through
active engagement with the possible
impacts that these may produce.

LINES OF INQUIRY 7
 Can I just put
out what's
in my head
unabashedly?

Who all have

contributed to
your life?

Can I be
serendipitous ?
Self

What are the various

ways I confront my
own mental health?

Would i have reacted in a

different manner if periods
were introduced differently
to me as a kid?

8 SELF
How can we How an individual's
'be present' past shapes their
in the 'here emotional intelligence?
and now'?

How will I talk Could I, an outsider,

to children about understand their
sensitive issues? traditions by
studying them?

Can I do something
about my own city
How am I slowly drowning?
related to the
Brahmaputra
valley?

Why I should Is my self worth

feel embarrassed getting affected by
about being the products
a Dalit? I own?

How does one merge

and become insignificant
enough to not become
the central character of
the project?

LINES OF INQUIRY 9
10 SELF
The Self Inquiry is about locating and
centering the self.

This section looks at how all inquiries in

some capacity arise from the self.

The ‘Self’ is an introspective nature of

questioning that the designer engages
in. These are questions that stem
from the very unique combination of
experiences and conditioning that a
designer goes through. Ranging from
existential to reflective questions, these
feed into the practice and the design.
From asking ‘how do I learn?’ to asking
‘how does my privilege define my
actions?’, the importance of engaging
with these questions lies at the heart
of developing a reflexive practice
which can produce transformational
learning. The more critically aware
learners become, the more they
are able to transform society and
subsequently their own reality.

LINES OF INQUIRY 11
Where do I belong?

The connections that

we form with a place,
community, history, beliefs
etc. form the basis of our
sense of identity.

Selected by Partha Mahanta

My project is a short animation film about the relationship or the other. They act as a guide for the younger sibling in
between me and my elder brother. I realised how much he has situations where they can’t share everything with their parents.
contributed in shaping my life. When I discussed this with my I believe their roles are very important and needed to be shared
friends, I realised that elder siblings often shape up personalities, with the audience. This story, being very close to me is also a
likes and dislikes, behaviours of the younger ones in some way ‘thank you’ note from me to my brother.

12 SELF
Sumit Baruah by Sumit

Through the project I explored the Brahmaputra valley by during different seasons and tried to look at the changing
remembering the stories and folklore that I heard from my landscapes, rituals and cultures, to gain a richer experience
grandfather as a child. My personal relation with the river of both the beauty and the wrath of the river that I had heard
comes from my grandfather himself as he ended his life by stories of, and in doing so, as an artist, understand and reflect
drowning himself in the mighty river. I visited all the places upon the relationship with the river itself.

The extremely personal experience of In ‘Burha Luit’, Sumit looks at his

feeling connected to a bigger whole- intangible relationship with the
a place or a thing - the inquirers have inanimate - Brahmaputra river.
explored the idea of belonging which Having spent his childhood here, his
is innate to human nature. photographs reflect various aspects
of what gives this river life, which is
In ‘Selected’, Partha asks his viewers a direct relation to him exploring his
“Who all have contributed to your life?” connection with the river.
The film illustrates the relation he and
his brother share. The detailing in this
short-animated film brings to light
the reflective process of the animator
where he wants to acknowledge
‘every small help’ that has contributed
to his life.

LINES OF INQUIRY 13
What moulds me?

Our conditioning,
experiences and memories
shape us.

Death of a Catfish by Sudarshan Devadoss

The students were divided into pairs and both the members was from the childhood of my story pal. It tells about how, as
of the pair told stories from their own past. This act led to an a child, he was affected when his cranky caretaker at home,
inquiry and brought out contemplative narratives which gave Ba, killed a catfish right in front of him, with her hands without
insights into the other person’s contextual and emotional spilling a drop of blood. The fish acted as a metaphor for his
undertones that shaped them. The story that I chose to take up feeling of empathy that died along with the fish.

14 SELF
Packed and Prepared by Shagun Bajpai

The project aims to destigmatize the discussion about periods/ How come in a culture like ours where first periods were
menstruation between a child and parent. Why do girls find it celebrated, this became a topic of taboo? What actually
very difficult to talk to their parents about periods as kids? Why triggered me to talk about periods with my parents openly?
are girls not prepared for their first period? Can that be the case with other girls?

The search for the experiences and Meanwhile, Shagun wonders why she
memories which have shaped the felt shy talking about their periods
Inquirer become important for an growing up and Would she have
Inward inquiry about the self. reacted in a different manner if
periods were introduced differently
In ‘Death of a Catfish’ Sudarshan to them as a kid? as she designs
asks - ‘how does an individual’s past packaging for menstrual hygiene kits.
shape their emotional intelligence?’
exploring through his comic how These introspections about our
him and his friends’ present-day experiences become an important
emotions were shaped by their building block of our personality and
growing up. identity which reflects in our Inquiries
and how we connect to them.

LINES OF INQUIRY 15
Who am I?

Our identity and the sense

of self guide our inquiries,
practice, outlook and our
agency.

रैगर आंदोलन (Reghar Movement) by Ishita Abha Dhuria

The project is about the history of my caste known as ‘Reghar’, and came across an event ‘Akhil Bhartiya Reghar Mahasamelan
the community that was forced into the leather industry and (held in Dausa, Rajasthan in 1944)’. The community had gathered
then converted into Arya Samajis by the upper caste. Over thinking it was a satsang, but they were chanting songs about
a period of time their history got destroyed, never recorded reforms. I have created multiple leather (cow & goat) panels
formally. I started my inquiry through my grandfather’s journal that are inscribed with information about the event.

16 SELF
 The Transgender Project
Sungandaram (Freedom)
by Jyotsna Ramesh

It is an animated documentary
about the Transgender
Experience in South India,
among trans women of
impoverished backgrounds.
I was unaware of my inherited
and internalised fear of Trans
people; much like a lot of
people in Indian society. This
realisation that personal
contact and understanding
a person’s life story brings
up empathy; made me want
to dig deeper and make a
film that helped non-trans
people view trans people as
REAL people, and empathise
with them.

The White Lines Collective

by Abhirami Suresh

The White Lines Collective is an

inquiry into how conversation
about mental health in
educational institutions can
be provoked through creative
practices.

It was born from the need to

better understand my own
mental health and that of my
peers, and the various ways
in which we turn to arts as a
form of expression. My aim was
to foster the outlook that an
individual is not alone in his/her
struggle, many of their peers
feel the same, and there are
others in their community they
can turn to in times of need.

“Who am I?” is arguably the most form or another in my everyday life’

human question to ask, a sense of through her animated documentary
Identity forms the central pillar of on Transgendender Identity in South
the self, through ages scholars have India. While these projects situate
tried to make sense of what Identity their social identity, Abhirami’s ‘White
really means. The Inquiries here Lines Collective’ is about looking
represent this search of personal and within and coming face to face with
social identity and where the Inquirer our own self as she tries to confront
situates themselves. her own mental health?

Through the study of the Reghar This understanding of our Identity allows
Movement, Ishita has to discern her us to express ourselves, make decisions
caste identity asking “Why should about our practice and be aware of
I feel embarrassed about being a what Inquiries we take up and why.
Dalit?” On a similar note, Jyotsana
taking her self Identity as Queer is I think, therefore, I am.
looking at the concept of ‘others’, due
to personally being ‘othered’ in some

LINES OF INQUIRY 17
How can I express?

We express ourselves through

the agency of design.

Unattended by Shafali Jain

The project started out with an inquiry into the Absurd. After The project became about what meaning I want to give to
looking at absurdity through different lenses of literature, my life. I started questioning where my horizon is going to lie. I
theatre, philosophy and science, I started to understand that wanted to push my limits of logic. I experimented with sound
we can’t draw a line where rationality turns into irrationality or because we hear silence when we question the void. I turned
absurd. inwards to find answers to questions.

18 SELF
Pulse by Amrita Barua

Pulse is a literary play, where I perform as the fictional publisher The 7th volume of Pulse is set in a parallel muddled Now, conceived
Backlogbook. It is an exploration in world making and extending both by past and future. This volume is to initiate readers into the
the fiction into tangible forms, web and virtual spaces. This time, it is world of Pulse and it is also an invitation to participate in the play to
a book in the form of a satirical fictional magazine in a thriving- create more.
developing-spotless-five star city heavily based on, but not limited
to, Ahmedabad.

Self-Expression is how we exercise Literary play/comic. By situating

our identity, It is the manifestation themselves as a character in this
of the agency. Often our Inward world they explore their Ideas and
inquiries are about trying to stories through medium of a design
understand how our inner self Inquiry.
interacts with the world around us.
Nupur’s Inquiry informs from their
Through Craft Future, Yatharth asks attempts at meditation and she
if they can be ‘Serendipitious’ trying channels it through her Installation
to chart on an Inquiry which doesnt ‘Enso’ asking “How can we ‘be present’
have any set methodology or goal. in the ‘here and now’?”

Meanwhile Amrita asks if they can In inquiries, expression becomes the

“just put out what’s in my head tool to bring the self in our practice,
unabashedly?” as their Inquiry ‘Pulse’ design or otherwise.
explores a fictional world in which
Amrita perfoms as a publisher of

LINES OF INQUIRY 19
What are my ethical
responsibilities?

The ethical and moral

questions, principals and
dilemmas that guide and
shape us as designers.

Titli by Shubhangi Singh

Project “Titli” aimed to curb the ills of child sexual abuse by were conducted. Adopting the method of behaviour change
raising awareness, especially in rural India. The project consisted communication, an exhibition was set up to encourage the
of intensive primary research in parts of western Uttar Pradesh. much needed conversations.
The outcome of this research pointed towards a severe
lack of communication between the parent and the child.
Identifying a dire need to bridge this gap, various workshops

20 SELF
Lad: A way of life by Dipti Nair

This project explores repair and regeneration in a state of In the duration of 6-7 months (December 2018 - June 2019), working
timelessness. One tries to rejoin and repair, rather than abandoning, with weavers and spinners in Iapngar, one tried to join, repair and to
moving on and procure new things from scratch. Things heal create textiles as a livelihood activity.
themselves and can be repaired if needed with the flow of time
and this has been percieved as a way of life in Meghalaya.

Dilemmas are inseparable from the acknowledges her outsiderness to

self. Our expression and practice are the traditions she is designing in
always toiling with our morals and her Inquiry ‘Fabric of Life’. Echoing
ethical positions. These positions a similar self-awareness, Dipti Nair
become important when our design questions what position she should
practice starts involving stakeholders take as she extends her engagement
who necessarily don’t speak the with a weaving community in remote
language of design. Meghalaya, “How does one merge
and become insignificant enough to
Shubangi’s inquiry ‘Titli’ deals with not become the central character of
awareness around Child Sexual the project?”.
Abuse in western Uttar Pradesh,
Given the sensitivity of the subject, This critical reflection on our own
It becomes important to reflect ethical dilemmas and morals allow
on your approach, she asks “How us to mindfully and sensitively
will I talk to children about such a engage with our inquiries without
sensitive issue?”. Sulagana, while unintentionally taking center stage.
working with craftspersons in Assam,

LINES OF INQUIRY 21
 How to have a life where
I can peacefully without
inflicting a lot of damage

Practice
into others and
the environment?

How can textile art

have a political or
social function?

Can a new culture of

playing video games
save the world?

Is railway station
environment is stakeholder
friendly?

Are we creating more

problems while solving
insignificant problems that
are not even an actual
problem?

22 SELF
Should I learn Is apparel design
to design only restricted to
something fashion and clothing?
intangible?

Should I still take Is Clay only a material

photos if I am to make products with?
questioning its
abundance?

Can AI uplift the Customer

service industry ?
Can a device
evolve, enhance,
adapt with the
user and vice-verse ?

How can we work How design can help

together with local society? When to stop?
communities to make
an impact?

Can design topple

governments?

LINES OF INQUIRY 23
24
The Practice Inquiry is about the tool or
vehicle which the designer uses to design.

This inquiry is about the questions that

address the past, the present, or
the future of ‘Design’ and ‘Creative’
practice. These questions attempt to
map the possibilities and boundaries
of a discipline and test if they can
be expanded. They begin from the
reflection on their role as designers,
their time at NID, and their design
practice, in addition to exposure and
introduction to new methodologies
and outlook at design during their
projects.

These questions can be of the nature

of ‘What is design?’, ‘How does it
interact with politics and society?’,
‘Where is design is heading, do we even
need design?’, ‘What is the role of a
designer?.’ It is also nuanced by the
ethical questions related to practice
which allow us to question the impact
of our design actions on society and
the planet.

LINES OF INQUIRY 25
Can design Improve?

From incremental to
innovative changes, design
attempts to find and solve
problems around us and
improve everyday life.

Exec: A Smart Wearable Ecosystem by Pankaj Yadav

The project aims to Re-look at the existing perception and use interactions and Internal triggers of the body. The initial
cases of a smart wearable and projects the future of wearable. product ideas were further refined resulting in an ecosystem
The first phase of the project was to come up with a brand around the wearable. The second part was to establish system
stand for Titan, After the research phase it got centred around and services which help the product be relevant longer
introducing information management and delivery. Information questioning the current perception of smart-wearable being
delivery and management based on context, tangible short lived.

26 PRACTICE
Redefining Customer Service Experience
With Artificial Intelligence by Rishabh Singh

The project aims to look into the demands of an empowered will seek to leverage natural human capabilities to communicate
customer to identify and deal with uncertainty and inconsistent via speech, gesture, touch, tonal expression, and other modalities,
conditions so as to deliver a more intuitive and personalized bringing a more sophisticated pattern recognition only after the
experience. The goal was to design an interactive system that consent of the use and classification methods to Customer Service
Industry respecting the terms and conditions.

These inquiries engage with Pankaj Yadav while designing a smart

investigations on improving ideas wearable asks, “Can a device evolve,
that target and solve challenges of enhance, adapt with the user and
our relationship and experiences vice-versa?”
with the spaces and artefacts in
the built environment supported by Rishabh Singh in redefining customer
technologies and products. From experience with artificial intelligence
iterative changes to groundbreaking (AI) asks, “Can AI uplift the Customer
shifts and innovation life cycles, service industry?”
design attempts to find and solve
problems around us. These inquiries aim to look into
the demands of an empowered
Working on designing materials for consumer, improving the reliability
reduction of noise levels on Indian of the product and personalising
railway stations Shivam Suthar experiences.
asks, “Is railway station environment
stakeholder friendly?”

LINES OF INQUIRY 27
What is ‘design
practice’?

The critical questions that

arise from and are about the
practice of design.

Humanising Creativity by Vikramaditya Raju Kalidindi

Wanted to discover why we ignore ourselves for the sake of

our work. Used my practice of lab-driven rapid prototyping to
explore how technology can be implemented in creative tools
to improve human quality of life. And if large corporations had a
role to play in this.

28 PRACTICE
 2
IMPACT

DISCOVER
GOAL Make orphans self-dependent and confident
- A better quality of life in the future such as education,
To build a sustainable future for orphans by creating psychological support and economic self-sufficiency
awareness and provide them with appropriate tools - Orphans become productive and valued members of their
to become agents of change in their local communities community

STAKEHOLDERS
CCI’s- Child Care Institutions
Sultan Ahmed Yatimkhana
District Child Protection Unit
Sultan Ahmed Yatimkhana- Zanana
- Mr. Dilip Mer [DCPO]
Observation Home
- Dr. Pooja [Counsellor]
Vikas Gruh

PLANNING
Child Psychologist AND
- Dr. Iti Shukla ANALYSIS

- Improving interpersonal skills by

engaging them in conversation
-To open them up, by building

CHALO BANAYE
low prosoacial behaviour
social marginalisation

confidence and trust

conduct problems
Emotional state

with their peers

peer problems
Physical state

mental abuse
sexual abuse

verbal abuse

Mental state
HEALTH

hyperactivity
malnutrition

depression

KHEL
diseased

inferiority
disabled

anxiety

neglect
abuse

Danika - Design for Social Cause by Aditi Lunia

ORPHANS ACTIVITIES
WORKSHOPS
RESEARCH

The idea was1 to understand child’s (orphans) social and 3

emotional state, their level of awareness about the society, create
opportunities for confidence-building and help them develop their
interpersonal skills. I conducted various workshops in Child Care
Institutions for kids of age group 13-18 years to learn about the same.
through engaging them in self-exploration
-Learning about the child’s mental state
Education
Social re-integration
Rehabilitation
Identity
Citizenship

Kids with dead parents

Disabled child
Diseased child
Runaways
Adandoned child

- Learning and Sharing:

and improving their self-esteem

- Developing skills of self-expression
thoughts, emotions, knowledge
WHO?
FUTURE ISSUES

MERI SOCH
SAWAL JAWAB

SELF-POTRAIT

FUTURE SCOPE

ABOUT NETWORKING
DANIKA

These inquiries are about questioning

A foundation for children where every child is respected for who they
Aditi Lunia in her inquiry ‘Danika-
Community level

design practice and demonstrate

are and opportunities to learn and grow as a citizen are created
DesignStreetfor
Talks
plays Social Cause’ asks a
Competitions
the capacity for reflexivity. From pertinent question, “How can design
Cultural events
SERVICES Exhibitions

asking ‘do we need a design Creative Workshops

help society? When to stop?”
practice?’ to querying the
Educational necessity
Counselling and therapy
and learning activities
Institution level
Workshops
Trainings for children and care-givers Trainings
of having a design process this Interactive line
sessions How do we design, is part of what
of questioning allows us to question 4 they learned in design school.
our training and in doing that find Therefore, this inquiry is really
Safe to express identity
new avenues and ways of extending Inclusivity aboutIDENTITY
challenging the status quo,
D AN I K A

practice.. discovering your own process and

FOUNDATION

always questioning the validity of

In his project ‘Humanising creativity’ the process and your own role in
Vikramaditya Kalidindi asks ‘What shaping it and being shaped by it.
are the problems that bring people
together and how might I be a part
of enabling dialogue?’

LINES OF INQUIRY 29
Can design be
‘disciplined’?

Pushing boundaries,
operating at the fringes
of what we understand as
design disciplines today.

I Travel Therefore I am by Vamika Jain

The project wants to question the meaning of taking

photographs today when millions of photographs are
constantly being taken and uploaded on social media. It also
inquires about the templatised pattern of tourist behaviour and
how visual media is affecting popular culture in tourism

30 PRACTICE
Designing Tools/Sessions for Clay
Therapy Modules by Yash Makwana

The project was about indulging with clay as a form of therapy. The project was of a collaborative nature. Through clinical research
Majorly two approaches were looked at, a curative and a and interacting with the participants and experts first hand a
developmental approach. It was a conquest of reimagining clay as framework was developed through which one can develop
a material for therapeutic purposes. modules for practically any application.

The inquiries that were encountered He questions if “clay is only a material

in ‘Can design be ‘disciplined?’ have to make products with?”. Through his
shown much maturity and have inquiry, he has explored how clay as
adopted a critical lens to push a material can be used in therapy.
boundaries of their own disciplines.
These are all responses to the
As a response to her project, I paradigm shift design is going
Travel Therefore I Am’, Vamika asks, through today. From subverting
“Should I still be taking photos if I am stereotypes to pushing boundaries,
questioning its abundance?”. all inquirers tread into the fringe
boundaries of design.
While, in ‘Designing Tools/Sessions
for Clay Therapy Modules’, Yash asks Does design pedagogy have the
why his role as a ceramic designer space for what is beyond?
should be limited by the stereotypical
understanding of his discipline.

LINES OF INQUIRY 31
What lies beyond the
boundaries of design?

The new territories that

lie outside the current
boundaries of design
application.

The Jumbo Problem: Non-Anthropocentric Design Research

To Address Elephant-Train Collisions by Tejaswini Nagesh

This was an attempt to look at how design could be centered around humans and their wellbeing it is time we
approached from a non-anthropocentric perspective where start considering our impact on the rest of our environment to
we are not just considering humans but other species and ensure the survival of both humans and other species as well.
factors while trying to address an issue. While design is mostly This project was a small step in that direction.

32 PRACTICE
 Co-creating
Speculative Futures
by Supreetha Krishnan

Can Speculative Design serve

as a Design Research tool?
What value does collaboration
with experts bring to the
Design process? How do we
design settings and scenarios
for others to express their
creativity? How can I combine
my interest in storytelling with
Product Design? How can this
project provocate the discipline
to expand its boundaries and
accommodate new ideas?

These inquires were guided by looking Supreetha incorporates not just

for action areas and approaches values of critical design but also
with perspectives beyond the approaches of speculative design
human-centric and the terra centric in creating creative futures.
design. These projects are creating
alternatives to the anthropocentric Neel challenges human-centric
world that we act and think in, thus design approach through exploring
breaking the boundaries of what the context of design for the space
design can be and do. industry, opening discourse for
beyond terra-centric design.
Tejaswini questioned the entire
approach of design through finding
methods and approaches which
draw from a non-anthropocentric
perspective while working on
resolving Animal-Human conflict on
forest edges.

LINES OF INQUIRY 33
Why do we make?

From making for the sake of

making to making as a way
to acquire skill. The practice
of making has different
motivations.

Luban Folding Stool For Children

by Dhivyesh Dhivyesh Venkatakrishnan

the stool is not an original idea. A friend shared a video of an old

Chinese woodworker crafting a folding stool from a single block
of wood without nails or glue. The joineries required great skill,
patience and understanding to create. I watched the video to
recreate it and thus learn the process by doing.

34 PRACTICE
 Life of Action
by Yashil Nagda

The project aimed at

promoting ‘Making’ and ‘Doing’
as an activity. The outcome was
a hand-stitched personalized
garment and the experience
taught me how to be patient
and how making things can
make one look beyond the
obvious and become more
nuanced..

Through making practice we Yashil’s engagement with hand

materialize our ideas and beliefs. stitching, in his words, made him
At the time the research and Inquiry more patient and made him consider
happens through hands-on and ‘Making’ as an activity important even
active making, knowledge is not in today’s time”.
textual but tacit.
Allwin asks the question “Maybe
Dhivyesh is inspired by a video of we can make sounds without any
a traditional Chinese woodworker, physical objects.” as he experiments
making the stool led him to introspect with creating music through gestures.
about his role as an individual and a
woodworker as he asks “How to have Making as a design practice need
a life where I can exist peacefully, not be driven by direct problems or
without inflicting a lot of damage into end goals, rather the act of making
others and the environment?” lends to new learning, discoveries,
and explorations for the maker. It is
reflective and reflexive.

LINES OF INQUIRY 35
How might we facilitate
Communities?

When design becomes

a facilitator and the
stakeholders become
their own designer.

A Wave by Gouthami MG
project raw and unique in its own way. The project helped in
Thira is an attempt to trigger thoughts, facilitate discussions building relationships between different levels of society. Utilizing
and initiate actions to protect marine life from pollution. local skills, knowledge, resources we co-created a space that
Through a participatory and bottom-up approach, it creates facilitated open expression about the issue. The experience
awareness about how humans are affecting life below water. empowered Mukkuvars to voice their opinions and share their
Local community members played a vital role, making the indigenous local knowledge. Think global, act local.

36 PRACTICE
A Living Heritage Project in Kwa-Thema,
South Africa by Jessica Rosalie Jones

How can a community use their own stories of their daily life to African History? Can a project like this really make a difference
start a culture of heritage archiving and collection? I wanted to to a community in need that the government has abandoned?
create a system for a community to tell their own stories. Maybe as a designer we should be teaching the community
Should I have had a larger understanding of broader South and not execute projects at all?

Within these inquiries, design takes In ‘A Wave’ Gouthami explores the

a back seat, and seeks context to boundaries of her ‘role’ and the
co-create, co-design and facilitate usefuleness of her design skills in
communities. When stakeholders facilitating the coastal community
become active participants of the of Mukkuvars to voice their opinions
design process, the designer seeks and share their indigenous local
to become a facilitator/observer/ knowledge about the ocean. She
participant and the stakeholders seeks her role in being a catalyst
become their own designer. for ‘Think global, act Local’. In such a
situation, and in giving up the expert’s
position, the designer may pose the
question “how important is the design
process?”

LINES OF INQUIRY 37
What is the
politics of design?

Design operates in a
larger social and political
framework. It reacts also
to and at the times of
challenges.

Adding Value to Pre-Primary Education System

by Abhishek Mankotia

My project intends to discover design opportunities within the create impressions which are passed on in the formative
pre-primary education system, particularly in the context of years of children and how they eventually lead to hackneyed
Anganwadis in Ahmedabad. Through research, I identified constructs in an adult’s ways of thought and being. Through
various disparities along the lines of gender, urban-rural participatory workshops and active engagement with the
location and other dimensions within the education system. major stakeholders, I eventually conceived meaningful design
I established how stereotypical gender narratives in textbooks artefacts.

38 PRACTICE
Chandrayatra by Tamojit Bardhan

How does cinema work as a medium to realise fantasy?

How does cinema represent non-existent phenomena or
things? What is the language of sci-fi in Indian Context? Why
do we try to represent the future? Why is a dystopian future
attractive to us? Why does Indian cinema try to achieve what
Hollywood is doing? Why do we look for Western validation of
our cinema?

Design is political. These Inquires starts questioning the history which is

provoke and engage us to probe being written through the hands of an
why we design the way we do. The archivist. Their inquiries may lead us
historical situation of design practice to wonder, “are creative professionals
in Western geographies reveals really aware of the political meaning
processes of colonization deeply and impact of their work in today’s
embedded in practice. network society?” Tamojit Bardhan
in ‘Chandrayatra’ questions the
Abhishek Mankotia in ‘ Ikigai: The aspiration to produce Hollywood-
Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy like imagery of Sci-Fi worlds in the
Life’ asks, ‘How can we make design regional science fiction cinema of
more democratic?’ and in doing so India.
acknowledges the deep division in
society of wants and needs. Shrishti These inquiries engage us with probing
Sharma in ‘Archiving Performance’ and thinking about how we can
probes the relationship between recognize all culturally important forms
archives and power and in doing so of making by decolonizing design.

LINES OF INQUIRY 39
 What does inspiration Ar
do to us? re
to

Subject As a mother what are W

the things you have to in
do for your daughter to
during her periods?

How our relationship Ho

with light change if
we shift to a different
light system?

What is the need of Ho

design in this sector? th
Should we design solutions in
or maybe we only need In
infrastructure?

Will people actually Ho

understand how important b
it is to talk about drug
abuse in children?

40 SELF
 re restrooms Is there a link between
eally restrooms disability, economy,
o visually impaired? politics, education,
religion, etc.?

Why is the space Can we explain complex

ndustry esoteric science through
o the public? simple visuals?

ow to listen? How to give purpose

to elderly living in homes?

ow can I imagine Can there be one

he future trends super font that
n the logistics does it all?
ndustry?

ow can something
become a learning tool?

LINES OF INQUIRY 41
42
The Subject Inquiry is about the
destination and scope of the probe.

This section looks at inquiries around

the subject area of the project, which
may include substantive areas like
learning, healthcare, technology,
urbanisation, among many others.
Each inquirer considers the nuances
of the subject, and the perspectives
about the subject they choose to
focus on. These questions can be of
varying degrees of depth into the
subject of the project and usually
arise from the context in which the
project has shaped itself and how
the designer has engaged with it.
The designer may have tried various
methods to understand the subject
area and tried to inquire about it. From
asking ‘Can food be immersive?” to
asking ‘Why are gender stereotypes
harmful?’, the framing of these
questions could help in the design
process, brief setting, as well as
research for and into the subject.

LINES OF INQUIRY 43
What are the changing
perceptions on Teaching
& Learning?
The way we look at education is
changing. Alternate approaches of
teaching and new ways of learning
are emerging as a response to
the challenges and upcoming
opportunities of the 21st century.

Learning Spaces for Agastya by Sunaina Desai,

Devansh Khajanchi, Khushboo Mehrotra,

We tried to make the learning experience for student at the Agastya

Foundation more fun and innovative so as to get the students to
engage in activities more than they already do. The students and
faculty responded well to the change we brought about.

44 SUBJECT
 Decisions
Actions
MAKE DO
Assumptions
Knowledge SAY
Experience
Beliefs
Reflection

Learning in the process of doing, sharing

and thinking.

Snippets of the deliverable of the “Light and Sight” thematic *A project reflection and analysis map done with
learning project done as a part of the client brief fellow friend Aditi Pandit (EDUG17) relooking at Dharohar’s
approach towards volunteering and learning.
Thematic Spaces Through Discovery
Learning Approach by Komal Jain

This project explores repair and regeneration in a state of Doing the saw myself also, focusing on learning in the setting of a Corporate
project was an outcome of a thought I have for many years- “How social responsibility and volunteering. This was significant because
do we learn?” Further on, throughout the project, I wanted to be within my own process of designing, I started understanding both of
able to take big decisions which impact the execution, further on its these would impact each other, what are the gaps and challenges
success and failure- I order to understand where I am, where I need and how do I overcome those in six months within the client
to go and where to improve. Interestingly, the course of the project provided brief.

‘How do we learn?’ is not a question education paradigm in Indian

that we often introspect on, simply schools, Komal Jain in her project to
because there are seemingly many design a thematic space asks, ‘how
ready answers to this. can something become a learning
tool?’ while, Shravani Agarkar in
Noora Yasmin working on ‘Flower- ‘MemoRise’ asks, “Do school students
Metry A Gamified Learning Experience’ know how to learn?”
asks “Should learning be more than
doing what the teacher teaches?” As This leads both to consider new
designers engage in the design of perspectives like community building
education they find themselves faced and peer to peer learning that
with these fundamental questions engage with building new mindsets
linked to our survival as a species. and empowering learners. Imparting
Faced with the quandaries of the 21st-century learning skills through play
and gamification becomes a pathway
to building resilience in our societies.

LINES OF INQUIRY 45
How can we
understand wellbeing?

Wellbeing is foundational to
our being which includes our
physical, mental and social
health. Exploring different
dimensions allows us to form
a broader understanding of
how we look at wellbeing.

Psoriasis Care by Kavya D.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease with red, thick different phases of the condition. Designing for appropriateness
and silvery scaly skin. It affects at least 100 million people was the key to not make them feel identified just by heir disease.
worldwide. Psoriasis has an unpredictable course of symptoms, The final solution Psoriasis care, is an ecosystem of interfaces:
physiological, emotional and financial burdens devastating mobile application, mobile accessory and planner book to
individuals and their families. Psoriasis closely associated with support the patients in care and collaborative management
body image affects patients emotions and feelings during

46 SUBJECT
Where did Childhood Disappear? by Gajesh Mithkari

Substance abuse among children has received attention only

recently in India and much work needs to be done to address the
issue. My design project was initiated so as to make parents more
aware regarding the issue. The final deliverable is a small handbook,
a guidebook to help parents understand the problem and react
appropriately.

Wellbeing is a complex combination, Gajesh Mitkari looking at substance

beyond physical heath factors, strongly abuse among children in ‘where
linked to happiness and life satisfaction. has childhood gone?’ asks ‘why do
children fall for this?’ showing links to
Azba Khan, while developing menstrual mental health issues and poor social
hygiene solutions for women living outcomes.
in slums asks, “Is the availability of
menstruation products really the issue?” These Ideas of dignity, empowerment
clearly linking health to the status of and questioning the role of medical
women in Indian society. experts and social norms open up
new inquiries in a subject that has
Kavya D, working with Psoriasis, an long been seen as a domain of
autoimmune skin disease, probes super-specialized experts.
the roles people play in caregiving
by asking, “How can we enable and
empower the individual in care and
management of a chronic illness?”

LINES OF INQUIRY 47
Can we make the world
for people of all abilities?

Empathy is recognised as
an essential attitude for a
designer to create impactful
change. However, the market
still asks us to design for
categories that are exclusive.

Indian Toilet Extensions for

Special Needs by Nandita Saha

project inquires about persons with disabilities who face The study the ground realities of people with disabilities. I
physical, social and economic challenges in India. I have tried to wanted to find a common ground between the disabled and
learn more about ‘disability’ through a nine year old boy named not so disabled. Can disability be treated just as a difference,
Saaqib, who is a student at Prabhat Education Foundation, Ahd. similar to other differences between all individuals, and not as
an isolated section?.

An average Indian’s delivery point must

be measured with the legs apart – in
which case, it will come to around 65 cm,
consequently the urinal must be lower at
60 cm from floor to lip or rim

1828
(6 feet)

600mm (or 24 inches as 900

per Indian Standard)

480

Person walking to the urinal with or Sensor based sound system makes a Person gets the idea of position of the Person does the activity Person leaves the area and the flush
without cane buzz and flushes the urinal at 800mm urinal and can use the grab rail to get activates at the standard distance
(32 inches) (the range could go from near until the sound output is enough
8 to 48 inches) close

48 SUBJECT
 Understanding Menstruation
In The Context Of Disability
by Pallavi Mambillil

The project looked at the

domains of menstruation and
disability, and further into the
interaction of the two.
It also took to a more macro
POV by studying adjacent
topics such as sustainability,
human rights, equality in
development and more and
how all of these are affected by
menstruation and disability.

Should I be less/more sensitive

about when I talk to them?
Am I allowed to talk about their
disability? If so how do I word it?
What do I focus on the - the
product or the process?

How do we ensure inclusion? Can we Pallavi Mambillil faced with the

design for people different from us? If stigmas and oppression surrounding
so, how do we empathize and ensure menstruation, the rights of women,
inclusion which is truly meaningful? and the dilemmas of disability ask
‘Is menstrual suppression a humane
Nandita Saha in her work on Indian solution?’
toilet extensions is faced with the plight
of a nine year old child. Wanting to These inquiries provoke us to question
relieve the stress on his caregiver she positions of privilege and think about
asks ‘Is there a link between disability, who gets left out.
economy, politics, education?’

Hitesh Suthar designing a urinal for

people with visual impairment asks,
‘Are restrooms really restrooms to the
visually impaired?’

LINES OF INQUIRY 49
How can we make
science more accessible?

Science is complex and can

be intimidating. Making it
easy to understand can make
it more accessible which
can open up doors for our
curiosities, experimentation
and imagination.

Cosmically Grounded by
Ajay Sapkale, Anushree Joshi, Ebrahim Vasi
fact does not necessarily lead to support from the public. For
`The context of this project is set around the Indian Space our nation with its diverse priorities, the Indian Space Program
Program. Curiosity and spirit for exploration have driven the needs to be more relatable to people starting from the
space program and humanity this far, but awareness of this grassroots level.

50 SUBJECT
Information Graphics on Air Pollution on North India during NOVA - A Light Affair by Samriti Gosain
winter Season by Prasanta Dutta

In this project, Reuters Graphics investigates the causes behind the Nova is a night lamp designed on the principles of Bioluminescence
air quality crisis in northern India every winter and its extent, using (light emit by living organisms), It opens up the doors to build a new
data collected from air quality monitors, satellite imagery from relationship with light, which is more personal and dynamic.
NASA and photographic evidence. The data-driven interactive For a long time our association with light has just been seeing it as a
visual narratives inform the audience about the critical nature of product, switching it on and off. This project is an attempt to create
the situation and create awareness or at least start conversations an experience of how our interaction with light will be in our day to
in the right direction that can drive active measures and policy day life , how it will change and create new meanings if we depend
changes. on a different light system? a cold light system.

Science is to see, explore and Imagine Taking their own fascination with space
but It is not always welcoming. As as a starting point, Ajay, Anushree and
we grow science leaves our school Ebrahim question, “At what point space
science fairs, tv shows and our Industry became too esoteric for the
classroom and becomes more and public to understand?” as they try to
more walled off with unapproachable foster a space enthusiastic culture
academic writing, terminology and and encourage people to take up a
equations. These Inquiries try to open career in space.
the doors of science by opening it up
with accessible communication and With another approach Samriti
experimentation. goes on to experimentation with
bioluminecesence to look at “How
Prasanta asks if they can “explain our relationship with light changes?” in
complex science through simple different light systems. Her questions
visuals?” as they try to communicate and her experiments go hand in hand
scientific data about Delhi’s pollution much like a scientific process, equal
and its impact to the everyday citizen. parts imagination with equal parts
systemic experimentation.

LINES OF INQUIRY 51
What are the concerns
around data privacy?

In the digital age, the

conversations around our
data, its privacy and our
security are more crucial
now than ever.

Are You Your Data? An

Immersive VR Experience
by Vaibhav Solanki

The project started with the

idea of investigating the
concept of privacy. Privacy
is experienced in day to day
life of people. Concept of
privacy is linked to autonomy
and freedom. Therefore,
protection of privacy is
protection of fundamental
freedom.

In current context of privacy,

personal information is
digital data. Most of the time
people are not aware of how
the data is being collected,
processed and stored.

Even though data sharing

has become an integral
part of day to day life, the
unawareness persist.a catfish
right in front of him, with her
hands without spilling a drop
of blood. The fish acted as
a metaphor for his feeling
of empathy that died along
with the fish.

52 SUBJECT
Data Trap by Stuti Sukhani

How is privacy and security linked? Why should my personal Children today have little knowledge about privacy and data
data be private? I am not a public/important figure, then why protection. It is important that the relationship between privacy
would someone want my data? How I can educate people and security be explained to children aged 8-13, as they begin
about privacy and data protection? How can I make them to use the internet unsupervised.
understand the potential scale of this problem?

The concerns around privacy have In ‘Are You Your Data? An Immersive
seen a major shift in the past year. VR Experience’ Vaibhav investigates
With data security becoming more into the concept of privacy. He
elusive than it was before, anxiety understood how the meaning of
around collecting, storing and using privacy has changed over the years
this data is growing. Here, the inquirers and poses, “What will be the future of
have engaged in questioning various privacy?” Through this project he dives
aspects of the subject and how the into the inquiry with different lenses.
understanding of the same can help
people. With all its complexity and the
trajectory of current events that
In ‘Data Trap’, a board game for surround the subject - it’s important
children that aims to make the player for designer to engage in such a
understand privacy and its importance subject, to design for it with empathy
through gameplay, Stuti seeks to make and ethical consideration.
people more conscious and poses a
significant question “Why should my
personal data be private?”

LINES OF INQUIRY 53
How might we
______ in the future?

The future inspires, cautions

and informs our present with
its possibilities.

AEROCOM - Freight Truck

For India 2030 by Gurbaz Singh

The future of Indian Logistic Scenario will be highly impacted by Deriving from these scopes the trucks would go through some
the upcoming technologies and user aspirations, The project basic fundamental evolution. The project imagines the product
assimilates the ecosystem containing the users, the drivers and in the aforementioned ecosystem, also explains the driver’s
the logistics service providers. lifestyle and how it will change with the trucks.

54 SUBJECT
 Font Futures by Ved Uttam

The intent was to intervene the

current type design process to
make these typefaces smarter
and providing non-designers
a platform to build their own
personalized font.

As the outcome, I used

Times New Roman and few
glyphs of Frutiger to build a
parameterizable type system.
with them.

Nowhereland by Vishwa Patel

It is an attempt to understand
how immersive storytelling
and world building can be
experienced through food. An
inquiry into the role of food
in storytelling and evoking
emotions, memories and
feelings that are unique and
memorable. It looks into
our food habits, trends and
questions the basic psychology
around food.

The future is an exciting yet unfamiliar While Vishwa in ‘Nowhereland’

space full of possibilities and with explores what the future of immersive
potential warn and inform us. food experiences can be. Her project
wants to provoke and engage the
In ‘AEROCOM - Freight Truck For India viewer into eating food that talks about
2030‘ Gurbaz has taken an extremely pertinent issues like coral bleaching.
research oriented approach to
futuring asking “How can I imagine These are both speculative and
future trends in the logistics industry?” grounded at the same time. Much like
His speculation aims to comfort, the future which stems from the now.
enable and improve the stakeholders These inquiries into possible, plausible
of the trucking industry. and probable futures can help us
imagine a better future for our planet.
In ‘Font Futures’, Ved’s wild curiosity
asks “Can there be one superfont
that does it all?” He explores ways of
designing a ‘parametric’ font in this
inquiry as a proof of concept.

LINES OF INQUIRY 55
 What makes the
oppressed, oppress?

System How can we create a

sustainable balance
between the environment
and the economy?

How does nature optimise

its resource use?

Can people be inspired

by positive empathy
instead of negative
empathy ?

How is the work-life

balance in Indian working
class is comparably less
than rest of the world?

56 SELF
What does it How does a certain kind
mean to be a of projection of women in
girl in the products or imagery affect
Indian Society? people's perceptions of them?

Do we really need
our want?
How can we make ‘doing
more and better with less’
the new normal?

Can culture be How would one define

designed or it the relationship is
forms? intimate or not?

What does Is Development for

development Everyone?
mean to villagers?

What if technology
helped us sustain
our planet in a
better manner?

LINES OF INQUIRY 57
58 SYSTEM
The System Inquiry is about the
fundamental questions which
can reframe all other verticals.

This inquiry is about the macro, addressing

the larger whole in which design inquiries
exist - the self, the practice and the subject
are located within it. The system inquiry
addresses the larger context, beyond the
designed, beyond design, and beyond the
designer. These questions do not have
single answers and cannot be inquired by
a single person, requiring collaboration.
These complex questions, also termed
as ‘wicked problems’ by theorists, are
about the environment, society, and
culture. This line of questioning requires
designers to develop an ability to explore
problem-framing from multiple lenses
and perspectives, while fundamentally
understanding how power operates in
any system. They lead us to contemplate
and visualise a web of connections. The
systemic/macro questions encompass
everything and therefore require time for
systemic and structural level of reframing.

LINES OF INQUIRY 59
How may we
leverage technology?

Our relationship with

technology has been
of tools through which
we seek control of our
experiences, interactions
and environments. To
understand this tool is
to be mindful of how me
may use it.

Chalo by Amarthya Palreddy

the project started was about looking at growing urbanization, to address the atomizing society as a cost of automation,
a very major phenomenon to address and evolve our systems primarily delved into Urban Transport and last mile connectivity
in adaptation with the contextually relevant appropriate with Auto’s playing a major role and yet being out of the urban
technology unique to Indian life and culture, and also an effort planning picture.

60 SYSTEM
About Time : Exploring New Narratives
Of Timekeeping by Abhishek MR

Time is a familiar concept and so is Timekeeping. However, experience and practice Time? Does time mean the same in an
dedicated timekeeping devices are being replaced by industrial workplace and a post-industrial tech-enabled workplace?
smartwatches, making time-telling just another function on our The project intended to redefine the concept of time and
digital displays. Is there a change in the way we understand, timekeeping for an overly connected world.

Human history is the history of He asks “What if technology helped

technology and how it allowed us us sustain our planet in a better
to control the world around us. From manner?” looking at circular economy,
the fire to the humble wheel to the storytelling, community building all
jacquard loom and now artificial while trying to identify her moral
intelligence, the possibilities and position as a designer. Abhishek MR
reservation of the seismic shift asks the question of “how technology is
technology can bring has been an changing our experience of time?” as
ongoing discourse. he introspects on how our perception
and experience of time has changed
Building on the promise of banking from the sun to the digital watch to an
changed how we look at financial trust overly connected world governed by
and ascribed it to the abstract entity of timers for food, for a taxi, for labor and
money, Amarthya asks “Can we create almost everything.
Relations based on trust through tech?”
exploring relations between India’s Inquiries around technology become
urbanization, the gig economy and Inquiries about society, nature,
mobility solution like Ola/Uber and how perception, and humans themself.
to decentralize them through trust.

LINES OF INQUIRY 61
Can we break our
consumption paradigms?

With climate change,

hyperconsumption and
depleting resources, we must
be equipped with alternative
models, materials and
behaviours to tackle needs of
now and of the future.

Earth Tatva by Shahank Nimkar

The inquiry is about understanding the current scenario of principles of circular economy. Asking vital questions as to
ceramic industrial production that caters to the consumerist how can we reduce mining for natural resources yet catering
society. More importantly, investigating waste generated after to the needs of consumers through developing value-added
the firing process in ceramic production and how can we products. The approach involved extensive interaction with
convert this production line into a closed-loop manufacturing various stakeholders and even more elaborate experimentation
process through a design approach which adheres to the with the material.

62 SYSTEM
Things My Mother Used to Do by
Khushboo Mehrotra, Noora Yasmin

Strongly rooted in our culture, our frugal habits have never been Through this museum-like experience, we want the audience to
aspirational, but a way of living. Making the most of everything remember and reminiscence the habits we once had. How we
was the standard. With the upsurge in disposable incomes, rising should cherish, preserve and conserve these practices, by doing.
consumption trends of use and throw culture, we want to remind create textiles as a livelihood activity.
that there is nothing as prudent as those values amma taught us.

The inquiries curated here raise Shashank’s and Aman’s project

inquires on the consumer and produce explores responsible production
cultures of the current globalised in ceramic and textile industrial
world. Through diverse examples from production into closed-loop
ceramics to textiles to everyday Indian manufacturing through adhering
cultural habits of reuse and recycle, principles of a circular economy.
these inquiries show the many ways in
which sustainability and circularity can Ishita explored similar manufacturing
be explored and used to deal with the using waste of fish, in East Africa, while
issue of overconsumption as well as Aavrati and Ashwariya question the
to create responsible production, that values of consumption in fast fashion
may lead to a more sustainable living. and digital overload in children.

These projects think beyond the current Lastly, Noora and Kushboo, explore
making of a product but use systemic values of reuse and recycle through a
thinking to envision the larger and long- curated speculative experience.
term impacts as well as the afterlife of
all that one is creating and consuming.

LINES OF INQUIRY 63
Can we understand
Nature?

The environment and nature

are highly complex systems
that we are dependent on.
We must therefore, learn
from and about them.

Resource Management in Flood Relief Camps

by Sakshi Gaggar, Nawara Shannon, Sandipana Das

To understand how nature has devised strategies in its existing for resource/ relief management in flood-hit areas, at the
social groups (ants, bees, moulds etc), to take decisions in time when the system is falling apart and critical decisions
decentralised systems. Could we emulate this system to solve need to be taken regarding the management, availability and
distribution of the resources

64 SYSTEM
Azure by Chirantan Khastgir

How much interaction does an average person have with both If there was one, when was that point of no return crossed with the
direct and indirect (industrial and such) discard they produce in lakes I worked in? Should calamities only be counted short term,
their lives with respect to their surrounding water bodies? both natural and man-made?

Shaping our understanding of the Working at Science Gallery Bengaluru,

relationship of humans with their Chirantan Khastgir investigates water
environment, the nature- culture as one of the primary ingredients
dichotomy, a product of traditional responsible for the world as we see it
western ideas, is today being today. He asks, “Should calamities only
challenged by the foregrounding of be counted as short term?”
indigenous knowledge systems that
see this as a false divide. These inquiries These inquiries challenge how nature
try to develop an understanding of the is viewed as a bundle of material
interconnected forces of nature that resources and stocks of energy. Has the
we do not have control over and try acceptance of this false dichotomy,
learning from and about them. led us to this point where we ask
“Does development only occur at such
Nawara Shanoon, Sandipana Das and dastardly costs?”
Sakshi Gaggar ask, “How does nature
optimise its resource use?”

LINES OF INQUIRY 65
What does it mean to
be a woman in a deeply
patriarchal society?
We live in a society
which has it roots deeply
embedded in patriarchy.
Even in the ‘modern age’ it
has managed to disguise
itself in pseudo equality.

Exploring Themes Of Gender Roles, Chastity

And Isolation In Grimm’s Rapunzel by Ritika Jathar

Most of the Grimm’s fairytales are known for their dark or sinister dramatic and the female protagonist has undoubtedly found
undertones, but I was particularly taken by the story of Rapunzel. a sturdy place in popular culture but I wonder how far we have
The themes of isolation, chastity and the woman being an really come. My project aimed to question gender roles in
object kept for protection were interesting to me, an Indian girl present society by providing a juxtaposition of time through the
. The evolution of these fairy tales through the years has been text, yet placing them in a very recognisable modern imagery.

66 SYSTEM
Jhat aai Basant (An Early Spring) by Pramati Anand

“I wanted to explore a very important trait that I had seen all Conversations with different women, from different age groups
around me. How women - the ‘victims’ of patriarchy become the and socio-economic backgrounds made me realize the different
gatekeepers of the same? Probing this question through the very shapes it takes. Sometimes, it takes the shape of a mother trying to
interpersonal relationship between mothers and daughters and make sure the daughter sticks to the society’s code of conduct, yet
how it takes place in different strata of society became the crux of other times it takes the shape of the mother vehemently wanting
the film. the daughter to do what she couldn’t.”

Gender discrimination is a stark reality Ritika Jathar deconstructing fairytales

of our society that plays out in our asks, “How does a certain kind of
public spaces, on our TV screens, on projection of women in products or
social media, and in our private lives. imagery affect people’s perceptions of
them?” and in an age of social media
Pramati Anand explores a very “Are people aware of the social, political
important trait that she sees all around effects of the content they consume?”
her, “How do women - the ‘victims’ of
patriarchy become the gatekeepers Sonali Chandrakar explores dimensions
of the same?” Probing this question of this through her own relationship
through the interpersonal relationship with her parent asking, “what does
between mothers and daughters freedom mean for a girl in India?”
and how it takes place in different
strata of society became the crux These inquiries reveal gender roles and
of her inquiry. Similarly, exploring a discrimination as the essential form
story that highlights the irony that the of patriarchy that seeks to maintain a
most insidious forms of patriarchy power imbalance by co-opting even
are passed down through the female those who are oppressed.
members, Nainisha Dedhia asks, “What `
does it really mean to have a voice in a
deeply patriarchal ‘advanced’ society?”.

LINES OF INQUIRY 67
How does society
shape us?

As social beings we are

moulded by the norms,
relations, identities and cultures
we are part of. An attempt to
look at the whole becomes an
attempt to look at who we are,
together and as Individuals.

Main Bhoomi by Avneesh Murgai

It enquires into the relationship of wrestlers with that of ‘mitti’

(the earth) and also amongst their own group. It questions the
idea of communal relations and also talks about the intimacy of
the sport at the same time.

68 SYSTEM
Kitchen Museum for Skyurbuchan by Kunal Lokhande, Speculative Stories from Shahpur Jat by Aarushi Bapna
Aijin Shaji, Shruti Chakke
Is Development for everyone? How will the current context be
TThe project was built on heritage conservation work done by extrapolated with respect to living, climate and human inter-
achi association in skurbuchan village. As a team of designers relationship? The project studies a marginalised settlement in Delhi
our agency was to propose a framework for Kitchen museum and extrpoaltes a possible future.
and Agriculture museum.The museum acts as a bridge between
old and young generation of the village. The process involved
immersing ourselves in the village for a month and understand
multiple local factors such as History, Ecology, Agriculture, Food
traditions, Religious context etc. create textiles as a livelihood
activity.

As humans beings, we have a balance for Indian working class so

fundamental need to form groups poor?” Zooming out, while working in
that believe in things that exist purely a remote Himalayan village with a
in our own imagination, such as gods, fast-disappearing Buddhist way of
states, money and human rights. Our life, Kunal Lokhande, Aijin Shaji, Urja
relationships are moulded by these Jhaveri, and Shruti Chakke ask “What
ideas through the social norms we does development mean to villagers?”.
follow. Similarly, trying to probe into the lives
of urban poor and thinking around the
Exploring these norms Avneesh Murgai issues of social development Aarushi
probes our personal inter-relationships Bapna inquires into questions of equity
by asking, “What is our idea of by asking the simple question,
intimacy?” and in our contemporary “Is Development for Everyone?”
social milieu “How would one define
a relationship as intimate?” Srinivas These inquiries are about how social
Harivanam probes into the social norms shape our understanding
norms around the value of work and of identities, development and the
labour by asking, “Why is the work-life production of culture.

LINES OF INQUIRY 69
What is the
design of politics?

The dynamics of power and its

structure is fundamental to our
lives. Therefore, it is inevitible
that we try to find our place in
it, question the status quo, and
reframe the system.

Museum of Dissent by Kunal Lokhande

Museum of Dissent attempts to highlight importance of The challenge in the process was to make this institution as
dissent in democracy and creates a safe space for discourse approachable as possible without making it seem authoritative
about public policies and promotes active participation in and biased. The outcome was a framework and narrative
governance. Dissent by it’s very nature cannot be objective and episodes each highlighting different aspects of dissent.
always represents political opinion/ inclination.

70 SYSTEM
The Uneven Circle by Dipti Nair

The act of making and designing is an act of hope that can be conveys a deeper meaning of the world around us. The subjects
used to discuss or solve larger issues of the society. Politics is not just chosen for the objects have an emotional connect with the current
about governance and parties having power it is more about how scenario of climate change and gender issues. The message is
an individual reflects to a situation or statement with his/her point delivered using satire, irony and humour with social media as a
of view. It is very personal and starts from within. Every object here source of inspiration to infuse or twist everyday objects in a political
way.

These inquiries are about challenging Shipra Barot re-looks the idea of
the understanding of design as mainly everyday objects to probe, “How can
an activity that produces neutral we understand the political identity
artefacts of use and revealing how the of everyday objects?” Adrik Ghosh
design of these artefacts is a political engaging with post-truth media
decision about how people should live, environments wonders “If all media
communicate or behave. is biased, then what is truth?” The
dynamics of power and its structure is
Kunal Lokhande in his institutional fundamental to our lives.
critique of the museum and its ability
to represent ideas asks, “Can dissent Therefore, it is inevitable that in trying
be institutionalized?” to find our place in it, we question the
status quo, and continuously engage
Arjunvir Singh probing into religious in re-framing our perspective on the
conflict asks, “Does this religious political system we produce.
intolerance make sense to anyone?”

LINES OF INQUIRY 71
72
What is the What were we
idea behind the looking for?
exhibition?

Ideas on the value of engaging in self Inquiries which are personal

reflection and reflection on practice that Inquiries which are professional
came about in discussions between the
curators, as well as conversations with Inquires which question the familiar
Praveen Nahar and the Altplusyd team, are Inquiries which chart into the unfamiliar
what drove the curation process. The quest
for collecting projects that could illuminate Inquiries about the mundane
some of these values was driven by the Inquiries about the exciting
question, ‘How can we urge people to reflect
and see their projects as inquiries?’ Inquiries which are small
Inquiries which are big
The journey of this exhibition began with framing questions about

MAKING OF
our ideas of design and making practice which went out through an
‘Open Call’ to the entire student community urging them to come
forward and apply to this exhibition. The responses to the open call
are catalogued in this publication.
LINES OF INQUIRY 73
 Maybe we can make sounds How to have a life where I can Why is ‘Making’ as an activity

74
PRACTICE
without any physical objects. life peacefully without inflicting even important in today’s
a lot of damage into others and time?
the environment?

ALLWIN WILLIAMS SAMUVEL DHIVYESH VENKATAKRISHNAN YASHIL NAGDA

Interaction Design Furniture Design Textile Design

Why do we
make?

ACTunes (AppSense) Luban folding stool for children Life of Action

Do you know that every one of your actions, The stool is not an original idea. A The project aimed at promoting ‘Making’
even the tiniest, have a consequence? Are friend shared a video of an old Chinese and ‘Doing’ as an activity. The outcome was
you listening to those events which are a woodworker crafting a folding stool from a a hand-stitched personalized garment and
result of your actions? Now you can hear the single block of wood without nails or glue. the experience taught me how to be patient
sounds generated by the movement of your The joineries required great skill, patience and how making things can make one look
hand over the space. All you need to do is to and understanding to create. I watched beyond the obvious and become more
take your phone, install the app and move the video to recreate it and thus learn the nuanced.
your hands. Tunes are generated from the process by doing. I’ve come to think that by
readings of accelerometer and gyroscope. being a wood carver or woodworker I can live
a simple life that will make me relatively less

EXHIBITORS
guilty than many other paths in life that are
visible to me.
 PRACTICE Am I stuck to the textile bit of Should I learn to design Is apparel design only
design or is textile a facilitator something intangible? restricted to fashion and
for something more versatile? clothing?

ASTHA AVINASH MANAN PAHWA SANYA DONALD

Textile Design Furniture Design Apparel Design

Can
design be

LINES OF INQUIRY
‘disciplined’?

Loopers Design for Masses Tingle: sound filtering

As a textile student, this was the first time I The inquiry was to find a suitable position on
wearables for autistic children
was working with designing for people with the matrix of Pro/Against Mass Production
The project revolves around making sensory
disabilities. The project revolved around and Pro/Against Mass Consumption as
wearables for children suffering from Autism
making play and learn a simultaneous a designer. In the 21st century, would you
Spectrum Disorder. The project was done
process for the child. The children were design for IKEA to be consumed by masses
in collaboration with the Textile Technology
partially blind with additional disabilities like or would you provoke the audience with a
department at IIT-Delhi. A user-centric
autism and mental retardation. This in-fact photography series against the effects of
approach combined with the learnings
was the most challenging part, as the user Mass Consumption?
of system design and textile technology
was not be able to tell me the impact of the
are key drivers of the design process. The
product, the impact can merely be observed
process involves in-depth user interaction at
by a course of time. This project has made
different stages. The outcome of the project
me realise how versatile textiles can be. The
was sound filtering textiles integrated into
joy of having to make something for a cause
headwear to tackle sound sensitivities in
has been very wholesome and satisfying.
autistic children. It involves explorations of
new textile materials and their possibilities.
Innovative solutions developed by a smart
amalgamation of technology and design.

75
 How can textile art have a Should I still take photos if I am Is Clay only a material to make Can a new culture of playing

76
political or social function? questioning its abundance? products with? video games save the world?

SHREYA PARASRAMPURIA VAMIKA JAIN YASH MAKWANA BRITTO N

Textile Design Photography Design Ceramic and Glass Design Exhibition Design

ECHOES I Travel Therefore I am Designing Tools/Sessions for Muna

The project aimed to celebrate the now The project wants to question the meaning
Clay Therapy Modules Everyone likes stories. The human mind
less valued aesthetic of the old city of of taking photographs today when millions of is designed in a way to look for patterns
The project was about indulging with clay as
Ahmedabad through a range of textiles for photographs are constantly being taken and in anything it processes. Stories, by their
a form of therapy. Majorly two approaches
the people living in the urban, contemporary uploaded on social media. It also inquires default nature of being narrative, appeal
were adopted, a curative approach and a
setting. With increasing issues of migration about the templatised pattern of tourist to human cognition. Video games by their
developmental approach. Clay has helped
and loss of the “Pol Culture” in Ahmedabad behaviour and how visual media is affecting default nature of interactivity are great tools
me immensely with my bouts of depression
these textile panels shed light on the way the popular culture in tourism to tell immersive stories to engage, enlight
and anxiety an I wondered how I could
urban population of Ahmedabad sees a part and inspire people. In my GP I designed a
bring this benefit to a wider audience? It
of their city, and twist it, making the audience narrative and environment for a probable/
was a conquest of reimagining clay as a
question themselves and their own way of potential digital gamified experience.

EXHIBITORS
material for therapeutic purposes. Overall
thinking. Here, art has a political or social
the project was of a collaborative nature.
function. I wished to use textiles to convey
Through clinical research and interacting
this visual, tactile or other sensorial appeal
with the participants and experts first hand
through its materiality, form, colour and
a framework was developed through which
composition to its users.
one can develop modules for practically any
application.
 PRACTICE Can a device evolve, enhance, Can AI uplift the Customer Is the railway station
adapt with the user and vice- service industry? environment is stakeholder
verse? friendly?

PANKAJ YADAV RISHABH SINGH SHIVAM RAJANIKANT SUTHAR

Product Design New Media Design Ceramic and Glass Design

Can design
Improve?

LINES OF INQUIRY
Exec: a smart wearable Redefining customer service Cellular ceramics as
ecosystem experience with Artificial sound absorber
The project aims to Re-look at the existing
Intelligence Noise is basically an unwanted sound.
perception and use cases of a smart Exposure to prolonged or sudden noise
The project aims to look into the demands
wearable and projects the future of causes a range of health problems like
of an empowered customer to identify
wearables. The first phase of the project stress, communication difficulties and
and deal with uncertainty and inconsistent
was to come up with a brand stand for sleeplessness, tinnitus and hearing loss. The
conditions, so as to deliver a more intuitive
Titan, the research phase centred it around environment at Indian railway stations are
and personalized experience. The goal was
introducing information management and chaotic. Recently, a new class of ceramic
to design an interactive system that will seek
delivery. This was based context, tangible foams with porosity levels up to 90% has
to leverage natural human capabilities to
interactions and Internal triggers of the been developed which has excellent sound
communicate via speech, gesture, touch,
body. The initial product ideas were further absorbing property comparing to PU foams.
tonal expression, and other modalities,
refined resulting in an ecosystem around the We can utilize the absorbing capability of
to bring a more sophisticated pattern
wearable. The second part was to establish the ceramic foam at Indian railway stations
recognition only after the consent of the
system and services which help the product in order to maintain its acoustics. Ceramic
use and classification methods to Customer
stay relevant and question the current foam is an eco friendly, weather resistant,
Service Industry, respecting the terms and
perception of short lived smart-wearables. easy to maintain, and sustainable product
conditions.
which might contributes in environmental
acoustics.

77
 How can we work together with How do we train communities Can a system be created on

78
PRACTICE
local communities to make an to take on their own heritage the basis of community based
impact? for their own exhibitions? regulations & self discipline?

GOUTHAMI M G JESSICA ROSALIE JONES KUSHAGRA SINGH

Exhibition Design Exhibition Design Graphic Design

How might we
design with
Communities?

A Wave A Living Heritage Project in Conception of Ministry of

Thira is an attempt to trigger thoughts,
Kwa-Thema, South Africa Design
facilitate discussions and initiate actions to
How can a community use their own stories The project contains personal research in the
protect marine life from pollution. Through
of their daily life to start a culture of heritage, realm of human preferences, behaviors, and
a participatory and bottom-up approach, it
archiving and collection? actions. We look into what is humane, what
creates awareness about how humans are
motivates humans and what possibilities
affecting life below water. Local community
exist today that might help in motivating
members played a vital role, making the
people to contribute or shift towards a
project raw and unique in its own way. The
humane goal.
project helped in building relationships
between different levels of society. Utilizing

EXHIBITORS
local skills, knowledge, resources we co-
created a space that facilitated open
expression about the issue. The experience
empowered Mukkuvars to voice their
opinions and share their indigenous local
knowledge. Think global, act local.
 PRACTICE How can design help society? Are we designing for evil? Are we creating more problems
When to stop? while solving insignificant
2
problems that are not even an
IMPACT

GOAL Make orphans self-dependent and confident

- A better quality of life in the future such as education,
actual problem?
To build a sustainable future for orphans by creating psychological support and economic self-sufficiency
awareness and provide them with appropriate tools - Orphans become productive and valued members of their
to become agents of change in their local communities community

ADITI LUNIA CHANCHAL PRAJAPATI DEVI MOHAN

STAKEHOLDERS
CCI’s- Child Care Institutions
Sultan Ahmed Yatimkhana
District Child Protection Unit
Sultan Ahmed Yatimkhana- Zanana
- Mr. Dilip Mer [DCPO]
Observation Home

DISCOVER
- Dr. Pooja [Counsellor]
Vikas Gruh

PLANNING
Exhibition Design Interaction Design Textile Design
Child Psychologist AND
- Dr. Iti Shukla ANALYSIS

What is

KHEL
CHALO BANAYE

HEALTH
Physical state
abuse
disabled
diseased
sexual abuse
malnutrition
Emotional state
depression
anxiety
social marginalisation
verbal abuse
inferiority
neglect
Mental state
conduct problems
peer problems
hyperactivity
low prosoacial behaviour
mental abuse
-To open them up, by building
confidence and trust
- Improving interpersonal skills by
engaging them in conversation
with their peers
‘design
1 3

RESEARCH
WORKSHOPS
ORPHANS ACTIVITIES

LINES OF INQUIRY
practice’?

Identity

Education
Runaways

Citizenship
WHO?

Rehabilitation
Disabled child
Diseased child
Adandoned child
MERI SOCH

Social re-integration
- Learning and Sharing:

Kids with dead parents

FUTURE ISSUES
SELF-POTRAIT

SAWAL JAWAB

thoughts, emotions, knowledge

and improving their self-esteem
- Developing skills of self-expression

through engaging them in self-exploration

-Learning about the child’s mental state
FUTURE SCOPE

ABOUT NETWORKING
Danika- Design for Social Are we designing for evil? Bricolage 2.0
A foundation for children where every child is respected for who they Community level
are and opportunities to learn and grow as a citizen are created Talks
Street plays
Cause - The unethical face of
Competitions
I looked around me to find more manmade
Cultural events
Exhibitions
SERVICES remainings of genius creations. The project
Creative Workshops
technology.
Counselling and therapy
The idea was to understand child’s (orphans)
Institution level
Educational and learning activities Workshops
aims at creating utility to any kind of
Trainings for children and care-givers Trainings
Interactive sessions
social and emotional state, their level

DANIKA
As technology becomes more pervasive discarded materials or potential byproducts
of awareness about the4 society, create
than ever, as people became more wary of from production processes in making
opportunities for confidence-building and
Safe to express identity IDENTITY
the online world, I put forth a simple question. daily-use products and interior solutions
D ANIK A
FOUNDATION
help them developInclusivity their interpersonal skills. I
Do you trust your everyday experiences on using simple hand techniques or otherwise.
conducted various workshops in Child Care
the internet? It takes us less than a second to Focus is on the optimum use of available
Institutions for kids of age group 13-18 years to
buy an item we don’t need, agree to ‘Terms raw materials rather than producing raw
learn about the same.
& Conditions’ we don’t read and even lesser materials for the making of the product. The
to mindlessly click a button, sharing our techniques used and utility of the product
personal info. As I click on an ad on Facebook, varies with the properties of the raw material
I wondered to myself, `Why does an online used.
seller need access to my microphone’. I seem
to come across such questions every now
and then from myself and others.

79
 Is Design process necessary? What is creativity? Can you Why is it so easy to isolate

80
PRACTICE
induce creativity? How do you ourselves within a creative
measure creativity? community?

KUNAL LOKHANDE, AIJIN SHAJI, AIMAN VERMA SIDDHI PATIL, DHYANI PAREKH, NUTI MODY, AMR- VIKRAMADITYA RAJU KALIDINDI
TA SUPATE”

Exhibition Design Product Design Product Design

What is the
Politics of
Design?

Curious Findings Create.witty Humanising Creativity

The project aims to create an alternative Creativity is a concept utilised in different The project required me to discover why we
learning system for Sensorium which contexts. We decoded and demystified the ignore ourselves for the sake of our work. I
facilitates learning about sensory organs and basic meaning of creativity and understood attempted to use my practice of lab-driven
perceptions for children between 9 - 14 age the process of having new ideas and rapid prototyping to explore how technology
group. The project set up a ground to explore acceptance of new thoughts through can be implemented in creative tools to
how constructivist model of learning can be different lenses. This synthesis was then improve human quality of life, and if large
applied through games, sculpture and space. applied to societal conditions that influence corporations had a role to play in the same. I
The process of the projects was informed humans and related to the context of an was able to see how can my practice look at
and shaped by the ecology of the place and organization. We worked closely with socially more human issues?
collaborators (teachers, students, fine artists). relevant organisations to apply creativity as

EXHIBITORS
The outcome of the project was a framework a tool to increase the impact.
for a ‘sensory treasure hunt game’. The game
makes the children construct their own
learning about sensory perceptions.
 Is it even important to question Can design topple I wanted to understand what Why do we look for Western
existing norms in the chosen governments? is the politics of design as a validation of our cinema?
context? designer?

ABHISHEK MANKOTIA PALASH BARUA SHRISTI SHARMA TAMOJIT BARDHAN

Graphic Design Graphic Design Exhibition Design Photography Design

LINES OF INQUIRY
Adding Value to Pre-Primary Enuf Archiving Performance Chandrayatra
Education System Societies, communities, states, countries. What objects/things are archivable and who This project looks at the representation of
We, as a civilization are on the brink of civil has the power to archive them? There are Sci-Fi world in the regional science fiction
My project intends to discover design
breakdown with extreme autocracies, two major inquiries done in the project; the cinema of India, their aspiration to produce
opportunities within the pre-primary
aristocracies, and various other abuse process of archiving becomes much more Hollywood like imagery, nationalistic and
education system, particularly in the context
of power, freedom and rights. The cruel complicated when one starts questioning heroic approach, and how all these work
of Anganwadis in Ahmedabad. Through
dystopic reality in which we were supposed the history which is being written through the or do not work. The project does not try
research, I identified various disparities along
to be progressing towards ideologies and hands of an archivist. Seeing the subjectivity to answer any questions. It is rather an
the lines of gender, urban-rural location
beliefs of a global monocuclture, blessed by involved in this objective process of archiving approach to start conversations about
and other dimensions within the education
hyper-consumption of information, digital and how it affects histories. Objects are cinema as a medium, representation in
system. I established how stereotypical
structures to aid functioning and governing, physical and hence are archievable things. cinema, sci-fi as a genre, etc. The form of this
gender narratives in textbooks create
a utopian dream depicted by books, movies. Performance which cannot be archived, project is a video installation, which is made
impressions that are passed on in the
Chile. India. Hongkong. Lebanon. Brazil. China. can be documented and preserved in out of appropriated visuals from various
formative years of children and how they
Myanmmar. We are burning. We don’t care another form. Archiving a live experience/ films.
eventually lead to hackneyed constructs
much, do we? We don’t want to stand up, a performance involves ensuring unbiased and
in an adult’s ways of thought and being.
voice, even a digital projection of a voice. Do inclusive documentation with a conscious
The project also questioned whether I
we? We need a revolution, an uprising. understanding of filtration occurring in the
communicate ideas in a language that
process.
I’m not familiar with. Through participatory
workshops and active engagement with the
major stakeholders, I eventually conceived

81
meaningful design artifacts.
 Can there be a post for a How can we incorporate Can Speculative Design serve

82
PRACTICE
‘designer’ in Indian Army? Human-centered design in as a Design Research tool?
Space Industry?

KRITI KHADIA, ATHARVA MANDHARE, SAKSHI PATIL, NEEL SUDHANSHU MEHTA SUPREETHA KRISHNAN
VISWAK RAJA, YASH CHAWARE

Product Design Product Design Product Design

What lies
beyond
boundaries
of design?
Design in Indian Army Human Spaceflight and Co-Designing Humanitarian
Indian Army being the world’s second largest
Design: A Voyage into New Futures
force in arms and strength, imports most Frontiers It was my first task undertaken as an
of its arms, technology and innovation
independent designer. The people I worked
strategies. We based our project on exploring Exploring new and unknown territory through
with and the brief I was given allowed for
different ways of co-creating opportunities, the lens of design
an experimental approach. I was able to
with a system design approach for the Indian
combine my love for storytelling and making
Army. We looked at how design thinking
with my interests in Design Research to
approaches can facilitate better decision
create something new and of value. It was
making and planning for the future. Our
truly satisfying to see how people of different
vision is to include design thinking processes

EXHIBITORS
backgrounds engaged with what I’d made.
and human centric approach along with
technological development, to enhance the
outcomes and broaden the spectrum of
design in the Indian Army.
 How can we design for other SELF Can I just put out what’s in my How can we ‘be present’ in the
beings? head unabashedly? ‘here and now’?

TEJASWINI NAGESH AMRITA BARUA NUPUR CHAUHAN

Product Design Animation and Film Design New Media Design

How do I
express?

LINES OF INQUIRY
The Jumbo Problem: Non- Pulse Enso
anthropocentric design Pulse is a literary play, where I perform as We are distracted by ruminations of the past
research to address elephant- the fictional publisher Backlogbook. It is an or worries about the future and forget to
train collisions exploration in world-making and extending be in the present. We restrict ourselves and
the fiction into tangible forms, web and over time, our fears, inhibitions, and beliefs
This was an attempt to look at how design virtual spaces. This time, it is a book in the crystallize. Being in the moment means
could be approached from a non- form of a satirical fictional magazine in that we are mindful of what is happening
anthropocentric perspective where we a thriving-developing-spotless-five star at this very moment. This installation is an
are not just considering humans but other city heavily based on, but not limited to, attempt to help us be in flow. The project is
species and factors while trying to address Ahmedabad .The 7th volume of Pulse is set close to my heart because of my attempts
an issue. While design is mostly centered in a parallel muddled Now, conceived both at practicing meditation and ‘being’ in the
around humans and their wellbeing it is time by past and future. This volume is to initiate moment. The installation is the result of
we start considering our impact on the rest readers into the world of Pulse and it is also meditative rituals of freezing water and
of our environment to ensure the survival of an invitation to participate in the play to then suspending it mid-air. One can be in its
both humans and other species as well. This create more. presence and focus on the drops of water
project was a small step in that direction. dripping.

83
 What meaning I want to Can I be serendipitous? How does one merge and

84
SELF
give to my life ? become insignificant enough
to not become the central
character of the project?

SHAFALI JAIN YATHARTH DIPTI NAIR

New Media Design Exhibition Design Textile Design

What are
my ethical
responsibil-
ities?
Unattended Craft Future Lad: A way of life
The project started out with an inquiry The Inquiry was an exploration into This project explores repair and regeneration
into the Absurd. After looking at absurdity developing an Anti Disciplinary practice for in a state of timelessness. One tries to rejoin
through different lenses of literature, myself which is not bound by the words like and repair, rather than abandoning, moving
theatre, philosophy, and science, I started to design, science, art, crafts or technology, I on and procure new things from scratch.
understand that we can’t draw a line where wanted to find my own place beyond the Things heal themselves and can be repaired
rationality turns into irrationality or absurd. words. Through Creative Practice and Critical if needed with the flow of time and this has
The scientific lens led me to the principle of Inquiry I tried to understand relationships been percieved as a way of life in Meghalaya.
uncertainty. With this installation, I wanted to between Crafts Practices, Technological In the duration of 6-7 months (December
create a universe of possibilities. I preferred mediums and Future Speculations; Studying 2018 - June 2019), working with weavers and
possibility to fact and paradox to the truth, their frameworks through lit-review and spinners in Iapngar, I tried to join, repair and

EXHIBITORS
yes and no to yes or no. The representations researching into histories, contemporaries create textiles as a livelihood activity.
I arrived at were those of an Aleph (auditory and future possibilities.I hypothesized and
locus) and Mirage (visually). experimented with Generative Design, AI
and 3D Printing, to expand the definition of
Digital Craft. Issues of ownership, power and
accessibility of technology are analysed by
an effort at locally crafting Amazon Alexa.
 How will I talk to children about Could I, an outsider, SELF Would i have reacted in a
sensitive issues? understand their traditions by different manner if periods
studying them? were introduced differently to
me as a kid?

SHUBHANGI SINGH SULAGNA SEN SHAGUN BAJPAI

Exhibition Design Textile Design Lifestyle Accessory Design

What
moulds me?

LINES OF INQUIRY
Titli Fabric of life Packed and prepared
Project “Titli” aimed to curb the ills of Weaving is a way of life in Assam-women The inquiry aims to destigmatize the
child sexual abuse by raising awareness, weave their hopes and dreams in those discussion about periods between a child
especially in rural India. The project consisted fabrics. My project explored how that came and parent, the impact is the most exciting
of intensive primary research in parts of to be; why weaving is not just a profession part.
western Uttar Pradesh. The outcome of this but a beautiful tradition passed on as a
research pointed towards a severe lack of priceless heirloom, and how this unique
communication between the parent and feature can be utilised to boost their
the child. Identifying a dire need to bridge entrepreneurship to a higher level which can
this gap, various workshops were conducted. elevate their life.
Adopting the method of behaviour change
communication, an exhibition was set up to
encourage the much needed conversations.

85
 How does an individual’s Who all have contributed to How am I related to the

86
SELF
past shapes their emotional your life? Brahmaputra valley?
intelligence?

SUDARSHAN DEVADOSS PARTHA MAHANTA SUMIT BARUAH

Animation and Film Design Animation and Film Design Photography Design

Where do I
belong?

Death of a Catfish Selected Burha Luit

Death of a Catfish is a 4-page outcome My project is a short animation film about Through the project, I explored the
of a sequential narratives workshop with the relationship between me and my Brahmaputra valley by remembering
Amruta Patil. The students, divided into pairs, elder brother. I realised how much he has the stories and folklore that I heard from
told stories from their own past leading to contributed in shaping my life. When I my grandfather as a child. My personal
an inquiry & brought out contemplative discussed this with my friends, I realised that relationship with the river comes from my
narratives which gave insights into the elder siblings often shape up personalities, grandfather himself as he ended his life by
other person’s contextual and emotional likes and dislikes and behaviour of the drowning himself in the mighty river. I visited
undertones that shaped them. I took up a younger ones in some way or the other. all the places during different seasons and
story from the childhood of my story pal. It They act as a guide for the younger sibling tried to look at the changing landscapes,
tells about how, as a child, he was affected in situations where they can’t share with rituals, and cultures, to gain a richer

EXHIBITORS
when his cranky caretaker at home, Ba, their parents. I believe their roles are very experience of both the beauty and the wrath
killed a catfish right in front of him, with her important and needed to be shared with of the river that I had heard stories of, and in
hands without spilling a drop of blood. The the audience. This story, being very close to doing so, as an artist, understand and reflect
fish acted as a metaphor for his feeling of me is also a ‘thank you’ note from me to my upon the relationship with the river itself.
empathy that died along with the fish. brother.
 Can I do something about my SELF What are the various ways Why I should feel embarrassed
own city slowly drowning? I confront my own mental about being a Dalit?
health?

SYAMANTAK GUPTA ABHIRAMI SURESH ISHITA ABHA DHURIYA

Information Design Exhibition Design Photography Design

Who am I?

LINES OF INQUIRY
Turning the Tide: Amphibious White Lines Collective Reghar Movement
Cities of Tomorrow The White Lines Collective is an inquiry into The project is about the history of my caste
how a conversation about mental health known as ‘Reghar’, which was the community
The effects of anthropogenic climate change
in educational institutions can be provoked that was forced into the leather industry
are imminent, and the world at large is
through creative practices. It was born from and then converted into Arya Samajis by
witnessing inaction from those with most
the need to better understand my own the upper caste. Over a period of time their
authority. This is the premise for the project
mental health and that of my peers, and the history got destroyed. I started my inquiry
which raises more questions than it answers.
various ways in which we turn to arts as a through my grandfather’s journal and came
The project explores the driving factors of
form of expression. My aim was to foster the across the name of an event ‘Akhil Bhartiya
climate change, the ones at greater risk of
outlook that an individual is not alone in his/ Reghar Mahasamelan (held in Dausa,
consequences, and how to mitigate them
her struggle. The Collective brought together Rajasthan in 1944)’. The community had
not by fighting against nature, but merely
the NID student community to converse gathered thinking it was a satsang, but at
adapting to the circumstances.
about their mental health in various ways; the event, they were chanting songs about
celebrating World Mental Health Day, a reforms (as told by my grandfather’s friend).
blindfolded-conversation experience I have created multiple leather (cow & goat)
panels that are inscribed with information
about the event.

87
 I have always been fascinated Is my self worth getting What does inspiration do to us?

88
SUBJECT
by the concept of ‘others’, due affected by the products I own?
to personally being ‘othered’.

JYOTSNA RAMESH SANKALP SINGH DHEERAJ KAILAS BIRARI

Animation and Film Design Photography Design Photography Design

Can the
world be an
accessible
place?
The Transgender Project- Take me with you Persistent Spirits
Sungandaram (Freedom) Using visual appropriation to inquire and Disability is the thing which makes a
raise questions about the current state of person limited in his activities, senses, and
It is an animated documentary about the
affairs we as a society have arrived at, and movements. However, there are people who
Transgender Experience in South India,
take for granted, under the umbrella of “Late fight against these conditions and do some
among trans women of impoverished
Capitalism”. outstanding things in their lives. I wanted to
backgrounds. It seeks to examine what
photograph the story of these para-athletes
Socio-cultural-economic-political &
who are under training for Paralympics
geographical aspects play roles in their
sports at Netaji Shubhash, Western Center
lives & transgender identities; what points of
Gandhinagar.
divergence do they have from mainstream

EXHIBITORS
Indian society vs what aspects of their
identity are universally relate-able; what
are the contradictions in their everyday life
regarding their Transgender Identity(both
self-imposed & that imposed by society) &
how that affects their individual & collective
identities. By asking these questions and
exploring these themes it aims to humanize &
de-other them to a non-trans audience.
 Are restrooms really restrooms Is there a link between As a mother what are the SUBJECT
to visually impaired? disability, economy, politics, things you have to do for your
education, religion, etc.? daughter during her periods?

HITESH KUMAR SUTHAR NANDITA SAHA PALLAVI MAMBILLIL

Ceramic and Glass Design Lifestyle Accessory Design Product Design

How can
we make

LINES OF INQUIRY
science more
accessible?
A urinal for visually impaired Indian Toilet Extensions for Understanding menstruation
37 million people across the globe suffer
Special Needs in the context of disability.
from some kind of visual impairment, out
My degree project inquires about people The project looked at the domains of
of which, 15 million people are from India.
with disabilities who face physical, social menstruation and disability, and further
In India, some public spaces are equipped
and economic challenges in India. I tried to into the interaction of the two. Through the
with the system that would aid them but
learn more about ‘disability’ through a nine project, I was able to see and experience
only to some extent. While doing my project,
year old boy named Saaqib, a student at the challenges and oppression due to
I found visually impaired people are not able
Prabhat Education Foundation, Ahmedabad. stigmatized topics such as these. The project
to interact with the products inside these
Observing him at school and knowing more probed people into talking openly about
spaces. The experience is full of struggles. My
about him through his family, neighbours, menstruation and their disability, while also
project revolves around urinals that would be
teachers and friends built bridges between observing what social constraints exist
easily accessible to these people. The activity
me, a design student and Saaqib. The first around the same. It also took to a more
of urination involves use of sense of touch
bridge is the outcome of my project - Indian macro POV by studying adjacent topics such
which is followed by hearing and smell.
Toilet Extensions for Special Needs. The toilet as sustainability, human rights, equality in
extensions’ aim is to make relieving oneself development and more.
more comfortable and reducing the stress
on the caregiver.

89
 Why is the space industry Can we explain complex How will our relationship with

90
SUBJECT
esoteric to the public? science through simple light change if we shift to a
visuals? different light system?

AJAY SAPKALE, EBRAHIM VASI, ANUSHREE JOSHI PRASANTA KUMAR DUTTA SAMRITI GOSAIN

Product Design Information Design New Media Design

How can/
might we look
at wellbeing?

Cosmically Grounded Information Graphics on Air NOVA - A light affair

The context of this project is set around the
Pollution on North India during For a long time our association with light has
Indian Space Program. Curiosity and spirit for winter Season just been seeing it as a product, switching
exploration have driven the space program it on and off. This project is an attempt to
and humanity this far, but awareness of this In this project, Reuters Graphics investigates create an experience of how our interaction
fact does not necessarily lead to support the causes behind the air quality crisis in with light will be in our day to day life , how it
from the public. For our nation with its diverse northern India every winter and its extent, will change and create new meanings if we
priorities, the Indian Space Program needs using data collected from air quality depend on a different light system, a cold
to be more relatable to people starting from monitors, satellite imagery from NASA and light system. Nova is a night lamp designed
the grassroots level. Our vision for “Cosmically photographic evidence. The data-driven on the principles of Bioluminescence (light
Grounded” is to see people from every kind interactive visual narratives inform the emit by living organisms); It opens up the

EXHIBITORS
of socioeconomic background being able audience about the critical nature of the doors to build a new relationship with light,
to reach out to the moon, stars and beyond. situation and create awareness or at least which is more personal and dynamic.
Demystification and bettering the projection start conversations in the right direction
of the Indian Space Program to both national that can drive active measures and policy
and international audiences. changes.
 What is the need of design in Will people actually How can we enable and How can we give purpose to
this sector? Should we design understand how important it empower the individual in care elderly living in homes?
solutions or maybe we only is to talk about drug abuse in and management of a chronic
need in frastructure? children? illness?
PAMALJEET SINGH SIDHU, ALICE CAPORALE-
AZBA KHAN GAJESH MAHADEO MITKARI KAVYA D AURELIA NEGRO, FRENCESCO TOURONELUCA,
REGGAZIVALENTINA RODA
Lifestyle Accessory Design Graphic Design New Media Design Furniture Design

LINES OF INQUIRY
Developing Menstrual Hygiene Where did childhood Psoriasis Care Improving the life of elderly in
solutions for women in Indian disappear? Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease with
their home
slums red, thick and silvery scaly skin. It affects at
Substance abuse among children has In order to improve the life of elderly living
least 100 million people worldwide. Psoriasis
received attention only recently in India and in their homes of city of Bologna, Italy, we
I wanted to learn about the key challenges has an unpredictable course of physiological
much work needs to be done to address worked with Ideasquare, CERN, Geneva and
faced by women during menstruation, and emotional symptoms, and financial
the issue. Coming from a family of school made a meal sharing service between
especially Indian women living in deprived burdens that devastate individuals and their
teachers, I noticed an increase in the number university students and the elderly. We
facilities and environments, where toilets, families. Closely associated with body image,
of children falling to drug abuse. My design started with designing some aids for giving
personal space, period products, etc are this disease affects patients’ emotions
project was initiated so as to make parents them physical comfort but during our
not available. The outcome is a deep set of and feelings during different phases of the
more aware regarding the issue. The final research we realized that loneliness is the
insights and journeys of indian women. I have condition. Designing for relevance was the
deliverable is a small handbook/ guidebook root cause for everything. With our service,
also attempted to raise questions and find key to not make them feel identified just by
to help parents understand the problem and university students can request for a home
design-led directions to tackle some of the their disease. The final solution was Psoriasis
react appropriately. cooked lunch at an elderly’s place and if
issues. care, an ecosystem of interfaces- mobile
elderly confirms he/she gets a company over
applications, mobile accessories and planner
meal and also a purpose to do something. In
books to support the patients in care and
the long run, the service will help in creating
collaborative management.
relations

91
 How to listen? How can I imagine the future Can a mobility platform be

92
SUBJECT
trends in the logistics Industry? a solution for the future of a
region and its tranquility?

SIDHARTHA PRATIMDAS GURBAZ SINGH JAYDEV PATWARDHAN

Animation and Film Design Transportation and Automobile Design Transportation and Automobile Design

How might
we ____ in
the future?

Are You Listening? AEROCOM - Freight Truck For Creek and Marshland
As part of open elective 2020, we were
India 2030 Transportation for the Indian
introduced to the true nature of listening. Armed Forces
The future of Indian Logistic Scenario will
Throughout the course we were exposed
be highly impacted by the upcoming
to the difference between just hearing and The role of design and aesthetics in the
technologies and user aspirations.
listening, pushing us to probe, why was this arena of development of armored vehicles
The project assimilates the ecosystem
crucial for us! The idea of listening is the most is something that has been rarely explored
containing the users, drivers and the logistics
powerful form of acknowledgement. It is a before. Understanding the role of aesthetics
service providers. Deriving from these
way of saying “You are important”. listening and the impact that they could have in very
scopes, the trucks would go through some
creates acceptance. Listening conveys the critical situations was worth giving more than
basic fundamental evolution. The project
message “I am not judging you”. a thought. The concept of aesthetics being
imagines the product in the aforementioned

EXHIBITORS
the first line of defense was a key driver for
ecosystem, and explains the driver’s lifestyle
the project.
and how it will change with the trucks as well.
 Can there be one super font What will be the future of food? How can autonomous vehicle SUBJECT
that does it all? technology be part
of our daily life?

VED UTTAM VISHWA PATEL AMAN VERMA

Graphic Design Exhibition Design Transportation and Automobile Design

What are
the changing

LINES OF INQUIRY
perceptions
on Teaching &
Font Futures Nowhereland Autonomous vehicle for India Learning?
I intended to explore what typefaces can do My project was an attempt to understand This project is an opportunity for autonomous
if they are made smarter. The intent was to how immersive storytelling and world vehicle technology in India. This project
intervene in the current type design process building can be experienced through food. starts small, from a campus, but can be
to make these typefaces smarter and An inquiry into the role of food in storytelling implemented at various places which are
providing non-designers a platform to build and evoking emotions, memories and regulated. HANS places like hospitals ,college
their own personalized font. As the outcome, feelings that are unique and memorable. campus, smart cities, etc can implement it.
I used Times New Roman and a few glyphs It looks into our food habits, trends and This project also helps the people who are
of Frutiger to build a parameterizable type questions the basic psychology around food. not capable of doing day to day commute
system. The initial approach was to build easily.
a proof of concept with monolinear block
characters. The second prototype was used
to demonstrate the use of round characters
using the Bezier curve theory.

93
 How can designerly way of How do children look and Can learners be empowered How can something become a

94
thinking be introduced to perceive, interpret and to be visual designers, to learning tool?
children through different tools interact? construct their own learning
and methods? for Mathematics?

AISHWARYA S NARVEKAR AMRITA SINGH ROY JYOTHI SYAM KOMAL JAIN

Product Design Graphic Design Graphic Design Exhibition Design

Sparks’ for 21st Century Skills Designing an Art based DIY kit Fearless Mathematics: Thematic spaces through
Sparks’ for 21st Century Skills is generative
for children of 8 Design and Development of discovery learning approach
research driven project that explores Educational Material
The project was based on reconstructing the Doing the project was an outcome of a
how design process can be used as
validity and functionality of DIY kits for young thought I have for many years- “How do
a tool to frame meaningful learning The inquiry began as a personal uncertainty
audiences. In spite of a boost in production we learn?” The project is an attempt to
experiences for developing 21st century of what it means to be a Graphic
of DIY Educational toys in the market in understand social platforms in the realm of
skills in children through informal learning Designer. What is the best use for the
the recent few years, they don’t seem to informal learning. It lead to an understanding
environments. The project aims to explore tools at my disposal, that Graphic Design
be functional, or age appropriate- Most of of how built spaces with permanent
how designerly ways of thinking and Education at NID provided? Is it possible to
them seem to fail to deliver on the points physical structures within an already existing
seeing the world can contribute towards empower others with these tools, in their
they claim. They fail to completely engage framework can be repurposed to provide
a holistic learning focusing on the 4Cs – endeavors? The collaborative investigation
children on their own or capture their play a thematic learning experience. Further on,

EXHIBITORS
Creativity, Collaboration, Critical Thinking involved a cyclic and iterative process
mindset. The idea was to incorporate values throughout the project, I wanted to be able to
and Communication. The methodology of designing educational material, that
and ideas that are very basic to play, and take big decisions that impact the execution.
of the project was research intensive and was used to conduct workshops with
making the product more open to help the I saw myself focusing on learning in the
involved a series of participatory workshops learners and educators. The observations
child collaborate with their own imagination setting of a Corporate social responsibility
with children over a period of time to test and assessments from the responses,
in the process, without having to follow strict and volunteering
for engagement and learning value through whether curiosity or confusion, aided in the
rigid instructions.
different tools and methods. development of the final outcome. “But what
has Design got to do with Mathematics?”
 How can we make children How can the kids of the Should learning be more Do school students know how
observe, ask questions & learn pol interact with their than doing what the teacher to learn?
from what they see? How can surroundings? teaches?
they enjoy this process of inquiry?

LAKSHMI T V NEHA VINAY BHIDE NOORA YASMIN, ABHIRAMI SURESH, ADITI LUNIA, SHRAVANI DILIP AGARKAR
NOORA YASMIN, SHRUTI CHAKKE

Interaction Design Textile Design Exhibition Design Information Design

Flower
-metry
The flowers and leaves outside have come into the

LINES OF INQUIRY
classroom, eager to learn more about themselves
and the children around them. They want to help
you learn about the world around you; the colors,
the different shapes, and the geometry of the
flowers you see every day.

PhysicsHunt : An exploration Pol-Khol Flower-metry MemoRise

The objective of the game is to be the Start at the Bee. Shake the bag and pick
a numbered ball from it.
of AR based participatory Pol Khol is a simple game designed to first one to reach the finish line : the large
Flower-metry was a gamified learning MemoRise is a platform built to help students
blue flower in the middle of the room.
forward if the number on the
is equal to the number of petals on any
approach to learn physics generate and initiate interaction between experience intervention for aMove classroom atball during their exam time. The aim was to
of the next flowers.

gameplay
from 3 to 8. The numbers corresponds to
the kids of Katakiavad (old city, Ahmedabad) Agastya
In the bag,International
there are colored balls, numbered Foundation, game rulesKuppam. speed-up the learning and revision process
the number of petals on the flowers. follow the leaf path directly in front
Many great discoveries are a result of and the grandparents, other members of Our aim was to identify and Only of you.
carry out how by using memorization techniques, thereby
on the flower, say aloud the name
floor, the pathway are of
observation & wonder at what a person
of the shape.
the pol and the hidden and forgotten built spaceOn the
could beleaves made moreWhenlively and spark reducing exam anxiety. I got the idea from
two colors; the light green for the left foot
e.g. “HEXAGON!”
saw in the world around him. Apart from elements while engaging the kids in various and the dark
curiosity for the right foot.
togreenlearn. As a space where the my cousin who was trying to mug-up all
If you do not get the number to move
being a great contribution to science, these outdoor physical activities in order to get youngest visitors of the institute foward to the next flower, clap three
learned, it the formulas one day before his exam and
times.
discoveries created a sense of ‘Aw’ , a ‘Eureka’ leg
The one who reaches the blue flower
them to move away from mobile games. was a Left
space that would in some way lay the ended up going blank in the exam hall.
first, wins the game.
moment for the scientist ...... Current system It also imbibes values of cleanliness and foundation for Right theirleg future learning.
of education is drill oriented & boring. What helpful nature in the kids. The game is a set
if students can be taught these theories & of activities, derived from the daily routine of
phenomena not through formulae & exam individuals living in the pol, each transforming
drills ... but by creating in them a sense of the chowk in some way. Each kid has to finish
wonder…. by making them ask questions; by all the activities and the one to finish the
allowing them to explore & experiment with activities first, wins.
their environment?

95
 At what point do different Can we Gamify learning Does convenience exist only at

96
SUBJECT
ways of teaching become a objectives with the help of the cost of privacy?
distraction? Narratives?

SUNAINA DESAI, DEVANSH KHAJANCHI, KHUSH- MD AASIF ANWAR SHREEYASH SALUNKE

BOO MEHROTRA

Exhibition Design Toy and Game Design New Media Design

What are
the concerns
around data
privacy?
Learning Spaces for Agastya Pictoplot The Game of Identities
We tried to make the learning experience for Pictoplot is a board game where building This project is an inquiry into the design of
students at the Agastya Foundation more maps is fun. We are young city planners on a new media and its implications through the
fun and innovative so as to get the students mission to build the most beautiful city with context of Aadhaar. The outcome is a Game,
engage more in activities. The students and all the basic facilities required in a real-life where the player designs and implements
faculty responded well to the change we scenario. We draw the most relevant city, Aadhaar in the virtual simulated world. The
brought about. earn badges on the accomplishment of game aims at providing agency of choice
tasks. and freedom to experiment. The game
poses moral dilemmas and conflict through
perspectives to create empathy for people
who are powerless and the ones being

EXHIBITORS
controlled. It is a tool for policy-makers and
students to learn systems-thinking. For others,
this game tries to make them informed of
various perspectives to decide - Is Aadhaar
Just?
 Why should my personal data What would be the future of SYSTEM What makes the oppressed,
be private? privacy? oppress?

STUTI SUKHANI VAIBHAV SOLANKI PRAMATI ANAND

Graphic Design New Media Design Film and Video Communication

What does
it mean to

LINES OF INQUIRY
be a woman
in a deeply
Data Trap Are you your data? An patriarchal An Early Spring (Jhat Aayi
The past year saw a significant shift in public
immersive VR Experience Basant)
consciousness when it comes to personal society?
The project started with the idea of I wanted to explore a very important trait
data privacy. From large scale data privacy
investigating the concept of privacy. I that I had seen all around me. How women
scandals, to small scale scams directed
wanted to understand what do we talk - the ‘victims’ of patriarchy become the
towards unassuming and uneducated
about when we talk about privacy. Means gatekeepers of the same? Probing this
people, data has been severely misused.
of achieving privacy and concepts of question through the very interpersonal
The generation of digital natives need
privacy vary according to various factors relationship between mothers and daughters
to immediately be addressed regarding
such as culture, geography, economy, and and how it takes place in different strata
this increasing concern. Children today
technology available. But the fundamental of society became the crux of the film.
have little knowledge about privacy and
concept remains. The concept of privacy is Conversations with different women, from
data protection. It is important that the
linked to autonomy and freedom. Therefore, different age groups and socio-economic
relationship between privacy and security
the protection of privacy is the protection of backgrounds made me realize the different
be explained to children aged 8-13, as they
fundamental freedom. In the current context shapes it takes. Sometimes, it takes the
begin to use the internet unsupervised.
of privacy, personal information is digital shape of a mother trying to make sure the
data. Most of the time people are not aware daughter sticks to the society’s code of
of how the data is being collected, processed conduct, yet other times it takes the shape
and stored. Even though data sharing has of the mother vehemently wanting the
become an integral part of day to day life, daughter to do what she couldn’t.
the unawareness persists.

97
 How does a certain kind What does it mean to be a girl Is it right to keep mass-

98
SYSTEM
of projection of women in in the Indian Society? producing in the name of
products or imagery affect consumerism and capitalism
people’s perceptions of them? without even thinking of the future?

RITIKA JATHAR SONALI CHANDRAKAR AAVRATI KUSHWAHA

Exhibition Design New Media Design Textile Design

Bandhi hui thi

cannot break everything, He was my inspiration,

its all constructed my role model
Can we

He was my inspiration,
my role model
Fear

How will he react

How will he react

I behind mom
Koi dekh raha hai break our

Fear
Pardah
I behind mom

Bandhi hui thi

koshish hi nahi karta
Koi mujhe samajhne ki
Pardah
consumption

Koi dekh raha hai

Koi mujhe samajhne ki
koshish hi nahi karta

paradigms?

cannot break everything,

its all constructed
Exhibit design-Exploring Discussing the Undiscussable Intangible to Tangible
themes of gender roles, - Design for a dialogue Initially, this project started on the basis of
chastity and isolation in curiosity to know the working system of an
My project was an enquiry to understand
export house and to create products as
Grimm’s Rapunzel the gap in relationship between me and
per clients’ demands. After knowing ‘the
my dad. The project was discourse around
Most of the Grimm’s fairytales are known for industry work. It helped with informing the
finding the possible reasons for the gap
their dark or sinister undertones, but I was research which came as a result of provoked
and how to possibly address those gaps in
particularly taken by the story of Rapunzel. questions and realizations. These realizations
relationship. Exploring the idea of ‘freedom
The themes of isolation, chastity and the raised questions like: How does one assess
in boundaries’, the final design is a comment
woman being an object kept for protection good design? Can sustainability become
on the expectations of the Indian societal
were interesting to me, an Indian girl. The a part of the on-going textile industry?Are

EXHIBITORS
boundaries.
evolution of these fairy tales through the trends really important?In addition to this,
years has been dramatic and the female questioning the existing working system of
protagonist has found a sturdy place in export houses in India? Their role and how
popular culture. I wonder how far we have their existence is affecting our environment
really come. My project aimed to question and the future. As a result, this project led to
gender roles in present society by providing the speculation of how the existing world.
a juxtaposition of time through the text, yet
placing them in a very recognizable modern
imagery.
 Is an eco-friendly life the only To what extent would we like to How can we create a Do we really need our want?
way to live responsibly or do go for decreasing the pollution sustainable balance between
we as humans need to balance caused by our purchase, in the environment and the
out needs, wants and desires in terms of money and effort? economy?
a more efficient way?
AISHWARYA PRASHANT RANE AMAN MAHESHWARI ISHITA KARELIA NOORA YASMIN, KHUSHBOO MEHROTRA

Product Design Apparel Design Textile Design Exhibition Design

NECESSARIES

Conventional necessaries
Basic necessaries
Efficiency improving
[ Physical ]

[ Physical ]
[ Physical ]

Sustainable
NEEDS

Types of
economies

development goals
Production waste and after-life waste of
products and services majorly contributes
to environment impact.
Do we really
need our wants?

// Stockholm resilience center

“The luxuries of yesterday have become
the conventional necessaries of today.”
macrosocioeconomic

Can the growth of a country be

measured using another system?
How can we break or escape

Consumption
“Locks “ users into a deceptive
dependence that cannot be easily
ESCAPED
our deceptive dependency of
convenience?
with NEW

Can we empower the consumer

to be more ethical in terms of
consumption?
Types of consumption
Relative to PERSON,
TIME & PLACE

Economy
SINGLE USE
USE + THROW Replacing seemingly ‘old ‘ things

Consumer culture
WASTE MAKING
CONVENIENCE

State of a country in terms of

PRODUCTION + CONSUMPTION
of goods and services
WANTS

Economic
growth
An increase in the amount of
goods and services produced
per head of the population over
a period of time.

Production

Ahmadabad deceleration
06. Aware that few countries have the organizational, financial
and personnel recourses which can enable industrial design to
assume its proper role,
08. Recognizing that through design relevant cultural
traditions can be preserved and utilized to current
advantage,
15. The design in the developing world must be committed to a
search for local answers to local needs, utilizing ingenious skills,
materials and traditions while absorbing the extraordinary power
that science and technology can make available to it,
16. That designers in every part of the world must work to
evolve new value system which dissolves the disastrous
divisions between the worlds of waste and want, preserves
the identity of people and attends the priority areas of need
for the vast majority of mankind,
LUXURIES
COMFORTS

LINES OF INQUIRY
DIFFERENT MEANINGS AND
CONTEXTS
Collaborative, political movement
to protect consumers and their
interest from predatory retailors
As an approach to economic policy
that emphasized the benefits of
manufacturing more consumer
goods as a means of generating
prosperity
A wasteful excess in consumption,
a cycle of shopping, accumulation
and discard, stimulated by media.
// Somebody else’s problem,
Robert Crocker

Consumerism

How has human wants and

needs changed over the years?
Pleasure
Acceptance /
prestige
[ Socio-cultural ]
Saves labor
Satisfying /
comforting
[ Physical + mental wellbeing ]

[ Physical ]
[ Physical ]
What can be done to revive
the positive context and
meaning of consumerism?

Can environment impact be

reduced with decreased
or ethical consumption?
Does the race for economic
growth fuel consumption?

DESIGN FOR SOCIAL

DEVELOPMENT
Khushboo Mehrotra & Noora Yasmin | Semester 7

Curiosity Carnival: An Recycling textile waste Sustainable Scales- Nile Perch Things My Mother Used to Do
Interactive Digital Student It hurts to know that the cotton t-shirt I am
Leather Diving into the shifting consumption trends
Experience wearing took more than 2000 L of fresh in India and understanding its adverse
Moving to India for my design education
water in its entire life cycle. The polyester effects on the environment and society,
sculpted my passion for sustainability and
The project had to engage school children shorts I am wearing is a big cause of water we vividly remembered what was, realised
African textiles which directed me to my
and be an educative experience. It was pollution. To help Textile industry, the 2nd what is and what will be. Strongly rooted
original roots. I was introduced to fish leather
important to find the intersection of their most polluting industry in the world, I chose in our culture, our frugal habits have never
in East Africa, which had the potential to
interest and the intent of the schools. The this project. It wasn’t just recycling the waste, been aspirational, but a way of living. With
eliminate cruel methods that caused harm
challenge in this brief was also to engage it was becoming something new that had the upsurge in disposable incomes, rising
to the environment. Through this project,
10-15 year old children, which is when many its own application in market and would consumption trends of use and throw culture,
I took the opportunity to understand the
children lose interest in academic and formal help in decreasing demand load on fresh we want to remind that there is nothing
leather making process and product
education. Thus, the aim of the project was to material. The new material was self selling, as prudent as those values amma taught
development. I appreciate how the locals
present to the children visiting the exhibition thus was cheaper than existing competitor us. Through this museum-like experience,
have taken an initiative to protect their
a story which would place them in the shoes products; everything used in making it is bio- we want the audience to remember and
environment and animals by adapting to
of superheroes and apply their creativity to degradable, even the polyester used- Hence reminiscence the habits we once had. How
sustainable methods, simultaneously holding
vanquish the evil that pervaded their planet. a win-win for everybody we should cherish, preserve and conserve
on to their traditions.
A combination of digital and physical media these practices, by doing.
helped bring out the extravagance of the
situation.

99
 How can we make ‘doing more How can we understand the SYSTEM Should calamities only be
and better with less’ the new poltical identity of everyday counted short term, both

100
normal? objects? natural and man-made?

SHASHANK NIMKAR SONIKA PULLURU CHIRANTAN KHASTGIR

Ceramic and Glass Design Lifestyle Accessory Design Photography Design

Can we
understand
Exploring Materials
Structure and Surfaces
Nature?
Sonika Pulluru
LAD’19

Course mentor
Amresh Panigrahi

Earth Tatva Ubli Hui Chai patti Azure

The inquiry was about understanding the As part of material surface and structure If not the most vital resource, water is one of
current scenario of ceramic industrial module we got to work with waste where we the primary ingredients responsible for the
production that caters to the consumerist should come up with new material made world as we see it today. Owing to this more
society. But more importantly, investigating out of any kind of waste. I chose to work with than often overlooked fact, I incorporated
waste generated after the firing process in tea waste, initially started with exploring the alternative process of cyanotypes
ceramic production and how we can convert composites and then exploring material into my practice in creating a body of
the production line into a closed-loop properties with forms and structural forming. work revolving around the numerous lakes
manufacturing process through a design dotting the scapes of Bengaluru. I started
approach that adheres to the principles of with photographing aerial shots around
circular economy. The project demanded prominent water bodies, consequently

EXHIBITORS
vital inquiries as to how can we reduce exposing and washing the prints in that very
mining for natural resources yet continue same body. The resulting pieces varied in
catering to the needs of consumers through a number of visual features owing to the
developing value-added products. The salinity, acidity and mineral content of the
approach involved extensive interaction water.
with various stakeholders and even more
elaborate experimentation with the material.
 How does nature optimise its SYSTEM Can culture be designed or What is the idea of intimacy?
resource use? does it form? How would one define a
relationship as intimate or not?

SAKSHI GAGGAR, NAWARA SHANOON, SANDIP- ANIRUDDH VERMA AVNEESH MURGAI

ANA DAS

Strategic Design Management Exhibition Design Photography Design

How does
society

LINES OF INQUIRY
shape us?

Resource Management in The Pidilite Project Main Bhoomi

flood relief camps Throughout the project, I never had meta It enquires into the relationship of wrestlers
inquiries about the project, nor was I following with that of ‘mitti’ (the earth) and also
To understand how nature has devised
any design process. Instead, I was solving amongst their own group. It questions the
strategies in its existing social groups (ants,
the immediate challenges that were coming idea of communal relations and also talks
bees, moulds etc), to take decisions in
across such as identifying the problem and about the intimacy of the sport at the same
decentralised systems. Could we emulate
deciding upon a target audience. Very late time.
this system to solve for resource/ relief
into the project, I started asking questions like
management in flood-hit areas, at the time
why someone needs to design for someone
when the system is falling apart and critical
else- Why can’t I make a scenario where
decisions need to be taken regarding the
the user becomes the designer? Why do we
management, availability and distribution of
force maturity into ourselves when all we
the resources.
want is to have a good time, or be a child
who enjoys the most basic of things? Why is
this commercial project not letting me enjoy
the design process?

101
 What does development mean Can people be inspired by Why is the work-life balance Is Development for Everyone?

102
to villagers? positive empathy instead of in Indian working class people
negative empathy (for victim comparably less than rest of
photos, distress videos)? the world?

KUNAL LOKHANDEAIJIN SHAJIURJA JHAVERISH- NEHA BHARATI, SHRAVANI AGARKAR, NIRMAL SRINIVAS HARIVANAM AARUSHI BAPNA
RUTI CHAKKE TANDEL

Exhibition Design Universal Design New Media Design Graphic Design

Kitchen Museum for COPE INDEFINITE CLICKS Speculative Stories from

Skyurbuchan COPE is a service that aims to increase The work is an extension of deep queries
Shahpur Jat
empathy during times of disaster. It enables and confusion which I held in my previous
The project was built on heritage The project is an ongoing inquiry into
people across India to come together at work environment. The project enabled me
conservation work done by Achi association understanding the ‘Notions of Development’
the time of need and judicially help the to inquire the cause of the precariousness
in skurbuchan village. As a team of designers in India. A critical lense was adopted to
victims of disaster with money, material and present in urban working class in India. The
our agency was to propose a framework for understand these notions through an
volunteer effort. The idea was inspired by the project tries to showcase nuances of the
Kitchen museum and Agriculture museum. ethnographic study of a fringe-settlement
moving lights seen from a plane while it is work culture that are otherwise taken for
The museum acts as a bridge between old Delhi. In the research, I explored how design
crosses a city. The lights in COPE denote the granted. The installation constructs and
and young generation of the village. The may contribute to the transitions of the
help pouring in from across the nation to a unfolds the existence of this unseen reality.
process involved immersing ourselves in the future. The inquiry is transdisciplinary in its
disaster affected area. By taking elements in a corporate working

EXHIBITORS
village for a month and understand multiple aim, approach and output. A future scenario
culture as ‘modes’ and by highlighting and
local factors such as history, ecology, was extrapolated from the study using
tweaking them, a narration is allowed to
agriculture, food traditions, religious context Speculative Design as a design research
emerge. Space allows the formation of a
etc. The project required us to make sense of tool. The focus was human relationships
disjunction that oscillates between the real
the existing kitchen and agricultural artifacts across socio-economic structures. The
appearances and of the absurdity present
and create narratives. understanding contributed to future world
in reality.
building - illustrated through a video about
‘News from the Future’. I also imagined how
we might consume news in the future.
 SYSTEM How is technology changing Can we create Relations based What if technology helped us
our experience of Time? on trust through tech? sustain our planet in a better
manner?

ABHISHEK MR AMARTHYA PALREDDY DHYANI PAREKHKELA VAN DER DIJK PATRICK

HAUWERTTIRZA MARYHANNAH STERKE

Product Design New Media Design Product Design

How may
we leverage

LINES OF INQUIRY
technology?

About Time : Exploring new Chalo Powerplant: A Speculative

narratives of timekeeping the project started was about looking
Service
at growing urbanization, a very major
Time is a familiar concept and so is This project is about creating empathy for
phenomenon to address and evolve our
Timekeeping. Dedicated timekeeping devices nature, a symbolic relationship that we don’t
systems in adaptation with the contextually
are being replaced by smartwatches, making really realize. We want to give it more value;
relevant appropriate technology unique to
time-telling a function on our digital displays. apart from oxygen, it means way more
Indian life and culture, and also an effort
When limited bus services were available we for you. Just like people have developed
to address the atomizing society as a cost
were concerned whether the bus was at 9 this dependable relationship with Wi-Fi
of automation, primarily delved into Urban
or 9:30, but today when there is a bus every nowadays. By associating data networks
Transport and last-mile connectivity with
five minutes, we are more worried about with biological processes, it is an attempt
Auto’s playing a major role and yet being out
whether the Uber is 5 min or 3 min away. Is to create an empathetic relation and value
of the urban planning picture. Ola and Uber
there a change in the way we understand, creation with nature.
being big successes in India and also into the
experience and practice Time? Does time
global platform, have only addressed 1/10th of
mean the same in an industrial workplace
the Indian population, here it strongly felt the
and a post-industrial tech-enabled
need to create an alternative.
workplace? The project intended to redefine
the concept of time and timekeeping for an
overly connected world.

103
104
SYSTEM If all media is biased then what Does this religious intolerance Can religion be larger than
is truth? make any sense to anyone? humanity?

ADRIK GHOSH, PARAM WALVEKAR ARJUNVIR SINGH ESHWARYA GROVER

Textile Design Textile Design Film and Video Communication

What is the
Design of
Politics?

Pavilion of Truth Socho Memoirs of Saira & Salim

The ‘Pavilion of Truth’ is a space of free Socho’ was a project I undertook as a part of It was only when Saira & Salim revisited
speech and expression. The idea was to my Space Design course. It revolves around that the walls crumbled, ached and longed.
curate and project information on an the subject of ‘religious conflicts’ in the old Seventeen years ago, 2002 communal riots
on-going issue based on their cognitive city of Ahmedabad. I wanted to address this in India took an ugly shape and a family was
biases using machine learning. We are a entire Hindu-Muslim issue because it has forced to abandon their burning house. The
data-hungry generation with fake news and been something that has always bothered event meant to be buried under the debris
half-truths having a major impact on our me, be it the Partition of 1947 or the 2002 unfolds when they share memories and

EXHIBITORS
worldviews. The project attempts to promote Gujarat riots. With this project I wanted to conversations from a place they once called
the idea of ‘absolute certainty’ or result of question this religious intolerance. The aim ‘home’.
free opinion(Habermas hypothesis, 1989). was to make people think about it, hence, the
We do not wish to decide what is the truth title. Moreover, I wanted to see how, through
for the audience but to present all available textiles, can I address this issue.
information and leave it on them to decide.
 Can we encourage safe How can we understand the We’d also like to thank all those who
political discourse? poltical identity of everyday participated in our open call and helped us
objects? enrich and frame the exhbition and vision.
Every response was valuable in our process.
KUNAL LOKHANDE SHIPRA BAROT

Exhibition Design Ceramic and Glass Design

Aarya Sharad Gauri Sharma
Gaidhani Harshit Doodwal Sanskriti Deshmukh
Aashish Jakhmola Ishani A Kamat Sarwesh Shah
Aayush Jitesh Chowdhury Saurav Suman
Chandrawanshi Joel Fernando R Shaik Tauqeer
abhilasha singh Jyoti Tyagi Ahmed
Abhimanyu Chauhan Khushboo Shashirekha

LINES OF INQUIRY
Aditi Murthy Kriti Khadia Shikha Prasad &
Agraja Pandey Kritika Rathore Srishti
Ajay Sapkale Kshipra Shekhar Shrabani Panigrahiu
Amogha GS and Dhavle Shravan Sreejith
Jainee Shah KUSH KUKREJA Shravani Joshi
Ankita Raj Lamha Bijili Shreya
Museum of Dissent The Uneven Circle Archee Gupta Malavika Byju Parasrampuria
Arya Sajad Mayur Shivaji Hajare Siddhi Patil
Museum of Dissent attempts to highlight The act of making and designing is an act Ashis Ray Nawara Shanoon Sidharth Suman
importance of dissent in democracy of hope that can be used to discuss or solve Ashish Dubey Neha Bharati Srangi
and creates a safe space for discourse larger issues of society. Every object here Asmita kumar NIKITHA S Simran Bahmania
about public policies and promotes active conveys a deeper meaning of the world Athul Dinesh Nirmal Tandel Somil Singh
participation in governance. The project around us. The subjects chosen for the Ayushi Johari Omprakash kumar Srishti Mehrotra
was an eye opener in understanding how objects have an emotional connect with Ayushi Rastogi nirala Sunaina Desai
complex and layered a concept like dissent the current scenario of climate change and Chirantan Khastgir Poojitha D Sushmita joshi
is. Dissent by it’s very nature cannot be gender issues. The message is delivered Deepa Kulkarni Pournima Shinde Vaibhav Vivek
objective and always represents political using satire, irony, and humor with social Dhyani Parekh Pushpendra Anand Vaishnavi Khadatare,
opinion/ inclination. The challenge in the media as a source of inspiration to infuse or Dipika Sharma Rohan Kanungo Yashil Nagda, Joy
process was to make sure that this institution twist everyday objects in a political way. DURGESH PAWAR Sabhyata Jain Valathuparambil
is as approachable as possible without Eemon Roy Sahiba Singh Vasundhra
making it seem authoritative and biased. The Eesha Prasad Saksham Panda Vijay Kumar
outcome was a framework and narrative Mahatme SAKSHI GAGGAR Vinay B Nandargi
episodes each highlighting different aspects Eippsita Mahato Salonee Pathak
of dissent. The project lead me to readings
and films which confused me a lot.

105
A heartfelt thanks to all those who responded to
the call for projects in the short time available,
the Altplusyd team of Harshali Paralikar and
Ajitesh Lokhande for giving us timely advice on the
curation, Praveen Nahar who encouraged taking a
critical stance, Tarun Deep Girdher for scaffolding
this publication, and everyone who supported us
throughout with their unstinting belief in our abilities.

Lines of Inquiry Writing Editing

Aarushi Bapna Aditi Pandit
Yatharth Asif Moideen
© 2020 National Institute of Tanishka Kachru Pallavi Mambillil
Design, Ahmedabad Sucharita Beniwal

Printed and bound in India. Design Production advice

Aarushi Bapna Tarun Deep Girdher
Yogesh Patil

Design Support Printers

Chandik C Print Vision Pvt. Ltd.,
Prajjwal Chandra Ahmedabad
Rahul Girish
Yatharth

Images
NID Archives
and contributing
students

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106 ENDNOTES
LINES OF INQUIRY

PUBLISHED MARCH 2020